Influences of culture, geography and infrastructure on website localization decisions

Dados Bibliográficos

ID20501451
AutoresRotem Shneor (0000-0001-9053-568X, University of Agder, autor correspondente)
EditoresDemetris Vrontis (0000-0001-7570-6241)
Ano2012
Volume19
Fascículo3
Páginas352-374
Data de publicação2012-07-27
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoCross Cultural Management An International Journal (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1352-7606 • E-ISSN: 1758-6089
EditoraEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/13527601211247099
OpenAlexW2018814633
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas3
Referências citadas67

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role played by culture, geography and infrastructure on European airline's decision to launch market‐specific websites. Design/methodology/approach Logistic regression analysis based on 440 observations of home‐target country dyads collected from websites of nine European airlines, and supplemented by additional sources of macro level indicators. The unit of analysis is the country dyad. Findings Cultural distance between home and target country, geographical distance between home and target country, website traffic volumes originating from target country, demand conditions in target country, and competition intensity in target country all influence the decision to launch local sites. The cultural dimensions of individualism, masculinity, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance, as well as the legal, commercial and IT infrastructures in target countries don't impact the same decision. Research limitations/implications The study's findings are limited contextually to B2C e‐service models, the airline industry and the European origin. Other industries, business models or regional origin of firms may exhibit different patterns. Originality/value The study shifts the research focus from what constitutes website localization into what dictates localization efforts' implementation. Surprising findings suggest that counter to earlier suggestions, infrastructural conditions and cultural dimensions' levels in target markets do not predict the launch of local sites, and that geographical distance impact decisions related to the geography neutral medium of the internet

Business · Distance decay · Economic geography · Geographical distance · Geography · Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory · Individualism · Originality · Political science · Qualitative research · Regional science · Sociology · Uncertainty avoidance · Aviation Industry Analysis and Trends · Computer Science · Customer Service Quality and Loyalty · Digital Marketing and Social Media · Marketing