دانلود رایگان مقاله نقش سیگنال خارجی و داخلی در تجارت الکترونیک

Abstract

Online markets present a challenging environment to evaluate experience products, especially products sold by unknown online sellers. To alleviate this problem, unknown online sellers may choose to signal quality using website signals. However, signals are not useful unless buyers notice these signals and believe that these signals are true. In this study, we evaluate the effect of the believability of external and internal website signals on the buyer's evaluation of seller and product quality and purchase intentions when interacting with unknown online sellers. The results suggest that external and internal signals, if believable, have a significant effect on buyer perceptions. While both types of signals are important, buyers find external signals more salient than internal ones. These results enhance our understanding of signals in e-commerce because they help online sellers to refine their digital business strategies and inform online buyers about the importance of website signals.

12. Conclusion

This study advances the theoretical and empirical understanding of the role of website signals in e-commerce. In this context, the characterization of signals as internal and external sheds light on the determinants of buyer purchase intentions when dealing with unknown online sellers. At the theoretical level, we develop a model that integrates trust and deception theories with economic theory of signaling. The core concept underlying this model is the role of signals as mitigators of information asymmetry in online transactions. In order to play a significant role in the reduction of this asymmetry, signals have to be believable by consumers. From the seller's perspective, signals differ in terms of their production: signals can either be created internally or obtained externally. The resulting model, combining external and internal signals, was tested empirically with respect to perceived seller and product quality, and the perceptions of deception, trust and purchase intentions. The results suggest that both external and internal signals have a significant effect on buyer perceptions of seller and product quality. While both types of signals are important, buyers find external signals more salient than internal ones. These results have implications for digital business strategies of online sellers who use signaling mechanisms to convey their quality.