Xiaoni Zhang

Exploring the potential effects of emoticons

Instant messaging (IM) has shown signs of becoming one of the main stream communication applications for users, like e-mail. Many people maintain constant contacts with multiple friends and relations via IM simultaneously whenever they are online, whether working on other applications or not. In addition to allowing instant exchange of text information, a unique feature of IM is its use of graphical icons that express emotions, known as emotional icons or emoticons. We explored their potential effects. Our model, based on prior theory and research, was tested using data collected from student users; it was analyzed to reveal potential effects of emoticons on various factors related to the use of IM. Our study used structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis; the results showed that the user of emoticons felt a positive effect on enjoyment, personal interaction, perceived information richness, and perceived usefulness. Our results suggested, however, that emoticons were not just enjoyable to use, but also a valuable addition to communication methods.

Latent Semantic Analysis: Five methodological recommendations

The recent influx in generation, storage, and availability of textual data presents researchers with the challenge of developing suitable methods for their analysis. Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA), a member of a family of methodological approaches that offers an opportunity to address this gap by describing the semantic content in textual data as a set of vectors, was pioneered by researchers in psychology, information retrieval, and bibliometrics. LSA involves a matrix operation called singular value decomposition, an extension of principal component analysis. LSA generates latent semantic dimensions that are either interpreted, if the researchers primary interest lies with the understanding of the thematic structure in the textual data, or used for purposes of clustering, categorization, and predictive modeling, if the interest lies with the conversion of raw text into numerical data, as a precursor to subsequent analysis. This paper reviews five methodological issues that need to be addressed by the researcher who will embark on LSA. We examine the dilemmas, present the choices, and discuss the considerations under which good methodological decisions are made. We illustrate these issues with the help of four small studies, involving the analysis of abstracts for papers published in the European Journal of Information Systems.

Evaluating leadership, IT quality, and net benefits in an e-government environment

US Government organizations are creating value for their citizens and businesses by improving their public service delivery through good websites. Our study examined leadership and IT quality, and their effect on positive delivery outcomes in an e-government environment. We first developed a theoretically based model using elements of the model developed for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (MBNQA) and DeLone and McLeans IS Success model. To test this model, we conducted a field survey at a municipal city government. The results supported our hypothesis that the MBNQA leadership triad (leadership, strategic planning, and customer/market focus) had a positive impact on the IT quality triad (information, system, and service quality). We also found that both leadership and IT quality increased the benefits.

Modeling Influences on Impulse Purchasing Behaviors During Online Marketing Transactions

The online shopping environment still represents a comparatively new, and largely unexplored, marketing channel. Not surprisingly, little is understood regarding the nature of and influences on impulsive consumer purchases during online marketing exchanges. This paper investigates these and related issues. Associated results tentatively suggest that significant relationships may exist between gender, subjective norms, consumer impulsivity, purchase intention, and actual purchase behavior in online marketing environments. Managerial and theoretical implications are developed and discussed.

A comparison of Magal's service quality instrument with SERVPERF

The role of service quality has become critical to the success of organizations. Therefore, it is important to use a reliable instrument to measure information service quality. SERVQUAL is a popular instrument for doing this, but, though widely used, it has been criticized for its reliability and validity. Use of the performance measures from SERVQUAL to form SERVPERF has addressed some of these issues. However, Magals instrument on information center success was found effective within a service context because of its service orientation. In our study, we therefore compared Magals instrument with the SERVPERF instrument in predicting satisfaction and usefulness; we found that Magals instrument had predictive advantages in determining future usefulness and satisfaction. An important result was to show that our results supported the use of Magals instrument as an alternative to SERVQUAL for researchers and managers interested in service quality assessment.

Measuring IS System Service Quality with SERVQUAL: Users' Perceptions of Relative Importance of the Five SERVPERF Dimensions

Using a library information system in an engineering research environment, this paper investigates the service quality perceptions of professional information system users. This paper also examines the relationship between the relative importance allocated by the system’s users to each of the five SERVPERF dimensions (dimensions that are shared with the SERVQUAL instrument) as measured by the points allocated to that dimension and the ratings provided for the individual items of the dimension. Findings suggest that users rate system responsiveness and reliability above other service quality dimensions. Moderating influences in SERVPERF include gender and pressure to perform. We conclude that (1) companies that provide client services and (2) designers of information systems that interface with users should emphasize responsiveness and reliability; in cases of limited user resources, responsiveness and reliability should be emphasized over other SERVPERF performance dimensions. We also conclude that the use of SERVPERF is nuanced and that moderating influences may affect measurement results.

The Role of Impulsiveness in a TAM-Based Online Purchasing Behavior

This article investigates consumer online purchasing behavior using an augmented Technology Acceptance Model. Particularly, we posit that Web use leads to intention to purchase online. Impulsiveness, Web use, and subjective norm are included in the model to test several hypotheses concerning online consumer beliefs, intentions, and the effect of psychological traits. We developed a survey instrument to collect data and used structural equation modeling to validate the research model. All of our hypotheses were confirmed except the one that links subjective norm and online buying behavior. The positive relationship between consumer impulsiveness and online purchasing behavior suggests that online stores should design their Web sites to attract impulse purchases.

What do consumers really know about spyware

Technology has revolutionized information collection and distribution to the point where marketers have expanded and implemented new technologies to enable efficient consumer information acquisition. Such sophisticated data collection methods have raised serious concerns about consumer privacy, as some marketers have quickly discovered ways to abuse this power.

How the mobile communication markets differ in China, the U.S., and Europe

Despite the 2001 downturn in the global telecommunications market, the mobile penetration rate in China is increasing due to the elimination or reduction of mobile connection fees. The mobile market worldwide is dynamic in terms of technology development, and competition is aggressive. The potential size and growth rate of the Chinese, U.S., and European mobile markets warrant examination of the state of their wireless development. Here, we explore that growth by examining the differences among the three regions, especially those in mobile consumer demographics, Short Message Service (SMS) usage, and 3G technology.

Measuring e-government readiness

We proposed a way of assessing readiness of a government organization to transform itself into a provider of fully integrated e-government services. We identified major components of e-government and discussed how it could evolve from a simple website into a fully integrated portal that delivers services to the public. Drawing upon strategic IS theory, we proposed three levels - strategic, system, and data - at which the governmental offices readiness for e-government should be addressed. We empirically tested our model of e-government readiness with data collected from a U.S. municipal government. However, the results supported only a two-level model rather than the three we had theorized. This finding had important implications because it supported our contention that discrepancies can occur when e-government initiatives are at a relatively early stage and some critical e-government issues have not yet emerged.