Understanding the Beliefs and Intentions in Search and Purchase Functions in an E-Commerce Web Site

Many e-commerce Web sites provide multiple functions, such as a product search function, an online purchase function, an order tracking function, and for downloadable software products, a product delivery function. It is important to assess how perceptions of a peripheral function affect perceptions...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:IEEE transactions on engineering management 2009-02, Vol.56 (1), p.106-114
Main Authors: Lin, J., Hock Chuan Chan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Construction
e-commerce
Ease of use
Electronic commerce
function-based analysis
goal-oriented and experiential
Internet
Perception
purchase
Revenues
search
Searching
task dependency process
Tracking
usefulness
Web sites
Websites
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Many e-commerce Web sites provide multiple functions, such as a product search function, an online purchase function, an order tracking function, and for downloadable software products, a product delivery function. It is important to assess how perceptions of a peripheral function affect perceptions of the core purchase function that locks in revenue. In this study, we examine how the search function of an e-commerce site affects its purchase function. Further, we categorize research on function-based analysis into three progressive stages, depending on whether behavioral intention and beliefs are considered for separate functions and whether these concepts are related across functions. Based on purchase decision process, goal-oriented and experiential behaviors, and task-dependency process, we hypothesize that each search construct has a direct effect on its corresponding purchase construct. A survey supports the hypothesis. An excellent search function can increase purchase intention, and ultimately contribute to the revenue of e-commerce sites.
ISSN:0018-9391
1558-0040
DOI:10.1109/TEM.2008.922641