In view of the factors influencing and the steps in the design of a Website, building a successful Website will vary from business to business. This study investigates what is required from a small commercial and industrial property and services business to take their business online and create an effective Website. The environment of the property market reflected the role that government plays in the property industry and also the role of the private sector. Marketing in the real estate context indicated that if real estate agents have access to the right type of information, not only can they add value to their own organizations, but they can also capitalize on the same information to create added value for their clients. The elements of the marketing management process include four steps, namely to gather information, to set marketing goals and plan strategy, to organize and implement marketing strategy and to control the marketing activities. Marketing in the online environment showed that the Marketing Mix includes personalisation, privacy, customer services, community, site, security and sales promotion. The principles of online marketing revealed the important role of the customer and customer relationships. An investigation into the difference between e-commerce and online marketing made it clear that online marketing is one component of e-commerce. This study critically analysed the available literature in order to suggest a proposed framework of what should be included in the Website of a small commercial and industrial property and services business. In order to successfully research online marketing of commercial and industrial properties and services in a small business, a basic but thorough understanding of online marketing principles and Website content are important. In this study a qualitative research approach was followed where secondary sources were critically evaluated to design the required framework. Thereafter three Websites of marketing of commercial and industrial properties and services were content analysed to see whether anything else should be added to the framework. This would assist in taking a small business in commercial and industrial properties and services online. The framework suggests that the Website homepage content should include:  Business overview/information Products/services What’s new Search Employment opportunities Interactive feedback Customer service/ assistance Index/directory  Financial facts Links to other sites Online business services/utilities  Guest book Frequently Asked Questions Messages from CEO A purposeful sample of three Websites was then content analysed so as to provide the information necessary to reach the objectives of the study. The following Websites were included in the content analysis: Broll, which operates as a national agency with international associations. The firm renders services (Estate Agency) and does not own property. Bruce McWilliams Industries Pty Ltd is operative in Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage and surrounds. It is a family business that owns property, which it develops and markets itself. Seeff is a national agency. It renders services (estate agency) and does not own property. Lastly, a narrative of a small commercial and industrial property and services business was created by means of document analysis of a specific business. The researcher was allowed to study the documents and diaries of the business in order to provide a narrative for this business. This narrative can be used as part of the envisaged Website for the business.

M.Inf. / Users of geographic information systems (GIS) are often faced with a challenge with regard to identification, location and overall access to digital data used in the application of GIS. The selection of the appropriate data from the large volumes available, also gaining access to available data and the establishment of the distribution of data from one central source are necessary tasks in order to improve the dissemination of GIS data. However, these are difficult tasks due to many users being unaware of the full range of available digital GIS data. A mechanism that could assist in improving access to digital GIS data is the Webbased GIS clearinghouse. This study was initiated to determine the requirements of GIS clearinghouses for optimum accessibility to digital GIS data. A literature study was conducted to investigate the nature of data that is used in GIS clearinghouses, the current trends in GIS data on the Web and the unique characteristics of the Web that can increase accessibility to digital GIS data. A selection of clearinghouses was made and these were evaluated in order to determine variables that can be translated into criteria from which a model for the evaluation of GIS clearinghouses could be established. This model can act as a working document or check-list for users to evaluate GIS clearinghouses, or for designers to create new or improve existing GIS clearinghouses.

It is widely acknowledged that patients' emotional expressions and doctors' empathic responses play a key role in providing satisfactory healthcare services and improving doctor-patient relationships. While such affective aspect of medical consultation discourse has been studied in different fields of research with the focus of examining medical consultations that occur in face-to-face settings, this area is extremely under-researched in the field of linguistics, particularly in the non-western context and the online space. While online medical consultation (OMC) has ushered in the new era of e-communication around the beginning of this century, discourse-related research on OMC is still in its infancy and studies on the affective dimension of the OMC discourse in non-western sites are, to my best knowledge, apparently absent in the literature. As China has seen a significant increase in the use of OMC platforms, studying OMC discourse in the China context is not only important but vital. With the support of the Chinese government's "Internet Plus Healthcare" policy issued in 2018, the reliance on the online mode of medical consultation will be further strengthened and the future of OMC service in China will remain promising. In order to have a better understanding of the affective aspect of OMC discourse, this thesis explores the online interaction between doctors and e-patients (including patients' caregivers) from a poststructuralist discourse analysis perspective. The data for this study consists of 300 text-based one-to-one instant messaging OMC cases collected from three popular OMC websites used in China. Each OMC case contains e-patients' emotional expression and doctors' empathic response. The data are analysed by the approach of computer-mediated discourse analysis in terms of two dimensions: the textual dimension and the social practice dimension. At the textual level, the study identifies indirect negative emotional acts by e-patients and empathic acts by doctors (which constitute the affective practice); it also examines the interactional discursive features involved in the affective practice. At the social practice level, it explores the discursive positions of e-patients and doctors within the affective practice context and the power relations that are reflected in the identity positionings. This study finds that the text-based OMC affective practice is rich in various types of emotional expressions and different ways of manifesting empathy, some of which are not mentioned in studies on medial consultation discourse. The study also identifies positions that disrupt the traditional or stereotypical roles of doctor and patient. Besides, it presents dynamic power relations, which problematizes the idea that doctors are always the more powerful party and patients are always powerless in medical encounters. This study sheds light on the importance of examining the affective facet of medical consultation from a discourse analytic perspective, when it comes to identifying non-traditional positions and power relations in clinical communication. The study also provides the implication that e-healthcare platforms, especially those with an e-commercialised model for healthcare services, have potential to produce a type of neo-liberal discourse - the e-commercialised medical consultation discourse - in which patients and caregivers, who are acknowledged as the less powerful group in the traditional healthcare activities, are empowered and privileged

It is widely acknowledged that patients' emotional expressions and doctors' empathic responses play a key role in providing satisfactory healthcare services and improving doctor-patient relationships. While such affective aspect of medical consultation discourse has been studied in different fields of research with the focus of examining medical consultations that occur in face-to-face settings, this area is extremely under-researched in the field of linguistics, particularly in the non-western context and the online space. While online medical consultation (OMC) has ushered in the new era of e-communication around the beginning of this century, discourse-related research on OMC is still in its infancy and studies on the affective dimension of the OMC discourse in non-western sites are, to my best knowledge, apparently absent in the literature. As China has seen a significant increase in the use of OMC platforms, studying OMC discourse in the China context is not only important but vital. With the support of the Chinese government's "Internet Plus Healthcare" policy issued in 2018, the reliance on the online mode of medical consultation will be further strengthened and the future of OMC service in China will remain promising. In order to have a better understanding of the affective aspect of OMC discourse, this thesis explores the online interaction between doctors and e-patients (including patients' caregivers) from a poststructuralist discourse analysis perspective. The data for this study consists of 300 text-based one-to-one instant messaging OMC cases collected from three popular OMC websites used in China. Each OMC case contains e-patients' emotional expression and doctors' empathic response. The data are analysed by the approach of computer-mediated discourse analysis in terms of two dimensions: the textual dimension and the social practice dimension. At the textual level, the study identifies indirect negative emotional acts by e-patients and empathic acts by doctors (which constitute the affective practice); it also examines the interactional discursive features involved in the affective practice. At the social practice level, it explores the discursive positions of e-patients and doctors within the affective practice context and the power relations that are reflected in the identity positionings. This study finds that the text-based OMC affective practice is rich in various types of emotional expressions and different ways of manifesting empathy, some of which are not mentioned in studies on medial consultation discourse. The study also identifies positions that disrupt the traditional or stereotypical roles of doctor and patient. Besides, it presents dynamic power relations, which problematizes the idea that doctors are always the more powerful party and patients are always powerless in medical encounters. This study sheds light on the importance of examining the affective facet of medical consultation from a discourse analytic perspective, when it comes to identifying non-traditional positions and power relations in clinical communication. The study also provides the implication that e-healthcare platforms, especially those with an e-commercialised model for healthcare services, have potential to produce a type of neo-liberal discourse - the e-commercialised medical consultation discourse - in which patients and caregivers, who are acknowledged as the less powerful group in the traditional healthcare activities, are empowered and privileged

The initiation and duration of exclusive chest/breastfeeding are important health determinants and a key focus of existing public health policy and programs. Despite the demonstrated benefits of chest/breastfeeding and focus on interventions, overall rates of initiation and exclusivity in Ontario remain low. The purpose of this study was to describe how midwifery clients in Ontario - a population credited with high rates of exclusive chest/breastfeeding - access information to support infant feeding decisions. A descriptive, cross-sectional online electronic survey was conducted using the Midwifery Infant Feeding Information Survey questionnaire which was locally developed for this study. A total of 235 midwifery clients who were either in or recently discharged from midwifery care at the time of the survey completed the questionnaire. Data analysis was completed using descriptive statistics with total counts and content analysis for open-ended questions. This research contributes new knowledge about infant feeding information access including the reported usefulness and preferences of various information sources across the continuum of care; the importance of the midwife-client relationship and the online information environment; potential communication gaps in the delivery of comprehensive prenatal infant feeding information; and self-reported infant feeding patterns suggesting midwifery exclusive chest/breastfeeding rates may not be as high as previously thought. Further research to improve information access is needed in order to identify barriers midwives face in discussing infant feeding with clients; explore the effect of health literacy in an online information environment to support the potential development of evidence-based, midwifery-specific online/digital tools. The study findings are relevant for both the academic and clinical midwifery community in developing effective strategies to further support midwifery clients in meeting their infant feeding goals. This study will further inform researchers, public health practitioners, policy makers, and other stakeholders representing all childbearing families in Ontario. / Thesis / Master of Public Health (MPH) / The goal of this study was to examine how midwifery clients in Ontario access information about infant feeding throughout the pregnancy and postpartum period. An online survey of 235 current and former midwifery clients identified why some information sources were more useful than others, and how infant feeding information could become more accessible. The midwife-client relationship and use of online/digital media were identified as important information sources. However, a number of information gaps were identified that suggest not all clients benefit from comprehensive discussions with their midwife in preparation for infant feeding. Further research is needed to understand barriers midwives may face in discussing infant feeding with their clients, and the use of online/digital tools to support midwifery clients to meet their infant feeding goals. The results of this study may benefit all childbearing families in Ontario.

by Chan Yuen Yuen Yolanda, Kwong Hok Yuen Terecina. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117). / ABSTRACT --- p.ii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.iii / LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS --- p.vi / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vii / LIST OF APPENDICES --- p.ix / ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --- p.xi / CHAPTER / Chapter I. --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter II --- . LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.3 / Chapter A. --- Findings applied to Online Newspaper Browsing Behavior --- p.4 / Chapter B. --- Banner Ads --- p.5 / Chapter C. --- Web User Profile --- p.6 / Chapter D. --- The Perspectives on Consumer behaviors --- p.7 / Chapter III. --- OBJECTIVES --- p.9 / Chapter IV. --- RESEARCH METHODOLOGY --- p.10 / Chapter A. --- Exploratory approach method --- p.10 / Chapter 1. --- The Pilot Study --- p.11 / Chapter 2. --- Online Survey --- p.11 / Chapter B. --- Descriptive Approach Method --- p.13 / Chapter C. --- Data collection method of online survey --- p.14 / Chapter 1. --- Sampling Plan --- p.14 / Chapter 2. --- Sampling Frame --- p.14 / Chapter 3. --- Sample Size --- p.14 / Chapter 4. --- Valid Sample --- p.15 / Chapter D. --- Identity Composition --- p.16 / Chapter E. --- Data analysis and interpretation --- p.16 / Chapter V. --- FINDINGS --- p.18 / Chapter A. --- Demographic --- p.20 / Chapter 1. --- Summary of demographic profile of respondents --- p.20 / Chapter 2. --- Comparison table --- p.23 / Chapter B. --- Internet Usage --- p.25 / Chapter 1. --- Summary of various aspects of internet usage --- p.25 / Chapter 2. --- Information on purposes of using Internet statistics --- p.27 / Chapter C. --- Online news browsing behaviors --- p.29 / Chapter 1. --- Summary of online news browsing behavior --- p.29 / Chapter 2. --- Information on competition --- p.31 / Chapter D. --- Banner Advertisements browsing behavior --- p.32 / Chapter E. --- Web Content Evaluation --- p.34 / Chapter F. --- Behavior analysis of online news browsing --- p.38 / Chapter 1. --- Skillfulness --- p.38 / Chapter 2. --- Internet information-seeking preferencess --- p.44 / Chapter 3. --- Demgraphic anaysis of banner ads browsing --- p.53 / Chapter VI. --- IMPLICATIONS --- p.55 / Chapter A. --- comparisons between apple daily's perception and online survey --- p.55 / Chapter 1. --- Customers --- p.55 / Chapter 2. --- Information types that readers are interested in --- p.56 / Chapter 3. --- Competitors --- p.56 / Chapter b. --- application of a behavior model --- p.57 / Chapter 1. --- Awareness --- p.57 / Chapter 2. --- Interest --- p.57 / Chapter 3. --- Evaluation --- p.57 / Chapter 3. --- Action --- p.58 / Chapter c. --- target segmentation --- p.59 / Chapter D. --- Web design strategies --- p.60 / Chapter 1. --- "Improve downloading time, interactivity and technological superiority" --- p.60 / Chapter 2. --- Links to local libraries and search engines --- p.60 / Chapter E. --- Information provision strategies --- p.61 / Chapter F. --- Banner Advertisements provision strategies --- p.61 / Chapter G. --- promotional strategies --- p.62 / Chapter H. --- online marketing research --- p.62 / Chapter I. --- competitive moves --- p.63 / Chapter J. --- future prospects --- p.63 / Chapter VII --- LIMITATIONS / SCOPE OF THE STUDY --- p.65 / Chapter VIII --- CONCLUSION --- p.66 / APPENDIX --- p.68 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.116

Texte remanié de : Dissertation : Droit : Université de Hambourg : 2008. / Bibliogr. p. 225-252. Notes bibliogr.

Seit Ende April 2008 gibt es für den Besucher der Website der SLUB Dresden eine weitere Möglichkeit, Fragen zur Bibliothek schnell und unkompliziert zu stellen und sofort persönliche Antworten zu erhalten. Grundlage für die Erweiterung um diesen zeitgemäßen Informationskanal ist eine leistungsfähige Wissensbasis, die auch im bereits abgeschlossenen Projekt Bibliotheksportal Sachsen www.bibliotheksportalsachsen.de im Einsatz ist.

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of Technology Degree in Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2014. / This study aimed to explore user factors that may influence attitude and behaviour where technology acceptance is concerned. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) Framework was used as a tool to map this degree of acceptance in relation to the design of the current Encyclopaedia of South African Arts, Culture and Heritage (ESAACH). ESAACH is an encyclopaedia intended to address the dearth of reference material in South African arts, culture and heritage studies (ESAACH.org.za). The encyclopaedia is divided into broader areas of research such as: verbal arts, performing arts, visual arts, and heritage. It was originally established as a tool to provide support for education in arts, culture and heritage. There has been an increase in interest in the ESAACH online resource platform. This has resulted in the need to capture user perceptions and attitudes on the site in order to provide guidelines on the improvement of the site and to make usage of the encyclopaedia easier and less frustrating. The researcher investigates English Language Proficiency, Perceived Ease of Use and Perceived Usefulness and Computer Self-Efficacy as factors that influence an online user’s attitude towards intention to use and acceptance of an online encyclopaedia. There have been concerns expressed by website designers that because users may not be fully acquainted or familiar with using the Internet in general when accessing information, they anticipate some resistance or reluctance to make full use of available online content. The study included the administration of an online survey to a sample of 149 students from the Arts and Design and Library Information Studies departments whereby their demographics, antecedents and precedent constructs of the TAM were tested for co-relationships of user’s intention regarding usage and acceptance of the website. The TAM model was used as a tool to determine: whether a positive confidence in the students’ English language proficiency would affect intention to use the encyclopaedia and to predict whether positive Computer Self-Efficacy is an indicator for a positive effect regarding Ease of Use and/or Perceived Usefulness. Results confirmed that users perceived Computer Self-Efficacy as a positive contributor to the usefulness of the ESAACH online encyclopaedia. Although no significant relationship between English Language Proficiency and Perceived Ease of Use was demonstrated, the need for a design which caters for sensitivity to the language of users was identified.

Basierend auf einem Onlineexperiment mit 206 Teilnehmern untersucht die Dissertation, wie Konsumenten im Internet nach Informationen zu hochwertigen Produkten suchen und welche Rolle dabei virtuelle Verkaufsberater (elektronische Agenten) spielen. Im Kontext eines online Kamerakaufes mit Hilfe eines virtuellen Agenten wird der Erklärungswert traditioneller Faktoren der Informationssuche für das Onlinemedium untersucht. Dabei werden das wahrgenommene Kaufrisiko, die persönliche Bedeutung des Kaufes sowie das vorhandene Produktwissen als Einflussvariablen getestet. Darüber hinaus wird untersucht, welche Rolle das Datenschutzbewusstsein des Konsumenten in der Interaktion spielt und wie stark ein Zustand des 'Flows' (fließen) die Informationssuchtiefe beeinflussen. Die für Kameras beobachtete Onlinesuche nach Produktinformationen wird in einem zweiten Schritt mit der Onlinesuche nach Jacken verglichen. Eine wesentliche Erkenntnis der empirischen Arbeit ist, dass virtuelle Verkaufsberater bei der Suche nach unterschiedlichen Produkten nicht dieselbe Wichtigkeit haben. So wird deutlich, dass sich Konsumenten auf der Suche nach dem Erfahrungsgut Jacke relativ weniger auf die Empfehlung des Agenten verlassen als dies im Kaufprozess von Kameras der Fall ist. Hinzu kommen einige signifikante Anzeichen dafür, dass Konsumenten den Suchprozess stärker zu kontrollieren wünschen und weniger an Agenten delegieren, desto mehr Kaufrisiko bzw. Kaufunsicherheit sie empfinden. Schließlich zeigt sich analog zu älteren Studien, dass Konsumenten mit mehr Produktwissen weniger mit virtuellen Verkaufsberatern interagieren. Im letzten Kapitel der Dissertation geht es um eine potentiell maßgebliche Barriere für den Einsatz von virtuellen Verkaufsberatern: die Angst von Konsumenten ihre Privatsphäre einzubüßen und zum 'gläsernen Kunden' zu werden. Die empirischen Ergebnisse legen hier jedoch nahe, dass Datenschutzbedenken die Konsumenten nicht davon abhalten, sich online mitzuteilen. Ganz im Gegenteil wird deutlich, dass Konsumenten sogar bereit sind, sehr persönliche Informationen von sich preiszugeben, wenn das System eine entsprechende Gegenleistung bietet (wie beispielsweise eine persönliche Produktempfehlung). Die Ergebnisse suggerieren, dass es einen großen Gestaltungsspielraum für Unternehme gibt, über elektronische Dialogsysteme mit ihren Kunden zu kommunizieren. Würden Unternehmen das potentielle Spektrum an persönlichen Fragen nutzen, die im Rahmen eines Kaufprozesses sinnvoll sind, könnten sie wertvolle Einblicke in das Entscheidungsverhalten ihrer Kunden gewinnen. Hingegen sollte beachtet werden, dass eine mangelhafte Berücksichtigung des Datenschutzes gleichzeitig auch Unbehangen beim Nutzer auslöst, welches sich in signifikant kürzeren Interaktionszeiten wiederspiegelt. Es ist daher im Interesse von Unternehmen, für eine datenschutzfreundliche Interaktionsumgebung zu sorgen. / Based on an online experiment with 206 subjects the thesis investigates how consumers search for high-involvement products online and herein rely on the assistance of electronic advisor agents. In the context of a camera purchase traditional constructs relevant in offline information search (including perceived product risk, purchase involvement and product knowledge) are tested for their relevance in an online environment. In addition, new constructs impacting online search, namely privacy concerns and flow, are analyzed. Finally, information search behavior for cameras is compared with the one for jackets. One major finding is that agents do not play the same role in, and are not equally important for, online information search in different product categories. Thus, it appears, that the search process for the experience good 'jacket' involves relatively less reliance on an electronic agent than this is the case in the purchase process for cameras. Moreover, the separate analysis of manually controlled and agent-assisted search shows that, at a significant level, consumers prefer to manually control the search process the more risk they perceive. In line with older studies the data also suggest that the more product knowledge a consumer perceives the less he interacts with an agent for information search purposes. In the last chapter, the thesis focuses on a potentially major impediment for agent interaction, namely consumer privacy concerns. The empirical results show that, against expectations, privacy concerns to not seem to significantly impede consumer disclosure online. In contrast, evidence is produced that if systems offer appropriate returns in the form of personalized recommendations online users seem to be ready to reveal even highly personal information. The findings suggest that there is a lot of room for online marketers to communicate with their clients through dialogue-based electronic agents. If marketers used the spectrum of legitimate personal questions that are related to the product selection process more systematically, they could gain valuable insight into their customers' decision making process as well as on decisive product attributes. However, unfavorable privacy settings do seem to induce a feeling of discomfort among users which then leads to less interaction time. Marketers therefore have to provide for a comforting privacy environment in order to make their customers feel good about the interaction.