Running Head: E-BUSINESS WEBSITE EVALUATION
E-Business website Evaluation
E-Business website Evaluation
Introduction
The report is based on two websites that have a relation with the Australian Wool Industry. The first website is the Australian Wool Innovation company, the company directs its investments to technologies and research with the desire to advance its activities on the farm like parasite management as well as reduce the costs involved in producing wool. The AWI is aimed at upholding the producers of wool with rigid resources that are attributed to science. This enables the availability of tools that do much to alleviate the challenges faced on the farm. Moreover, AWI does provide educational guidance on quality breeding (AWI, 2011).
The second website is Michell, which is the leading exporter of wool in Australia. It has had a strong relation with the textile industry for over 13 decades. Michell that has its headquarters located in Adelaide, South Australia is under the ownership of the Michell family. The company has ownership of several production facilities globally in addition to a wide range of agents and business partners located in Australia. The business is subject to responsible management that is upheld by a highly rated research and development team that is designed to ensure reliability and quality. Its scalability feature enables it to source and process wool according to the customer’s requirements (Mitchellwool, 2008).
Tasks
1. Clearly state which e-business model you have chosen. For each chosen website report the business name, the homepage URL, and include a screenshot of the homepage.
The e-Commerce business model chosen is the Business (organization) with two websites notably from the business-to-consumer e-commerce business model. The business name for the first website is Australian Wool Innovation Limited. The home page URL is http://www.wool.com/Grow.htm
While the business name for the second website is Michell. The Home page URL is http://www.michellwool.com/
2. For each chosen website, in 1-2 paragraphs, explain why the website belongs to that particular ecommerce business model.
The Australian Wool Innovation Limited is a business-to-consumer business model in the sense that the business entity directs its products and services towards the customer (Helfat, 2000). The AWI provides the customers with quality products that are prevented from parasites that is done by employing several prevention strategies and well managed and the provision of quality education as well as cost efficient products to the customers. It is through these steps that the business enterprise is able to establish a rigid relationship with its customers.
The Mitchell, which is based on the business-to-consumer model, is destined to managing its activities globally in a more responsible manner so as to give its clients the best service. Mitchell is backed by a high class research and development team that enables it to advance more quality and reliable wool for its client. The organization employs quality control systems, and high level processes that are destined to ensure that it maintains its high flying fibre innovation. The organization is scalable to source and process wool in respect to the customer’s requirements with no consideration being placed on their size and location.
3. For each chosen website, in 1-2 paragraphs, identify what you think is/are the principal business goal(s) of the website.
The Australian Wool Innovation Limited has the principle goal of eliminating varied forms of challenges that are faced on the farm among them climate change and drought in addition to weeds, pests and predators. AWI is objectified to also provide education to its clients and staff so as to enable quality service provision like shearer and wool-handling training and guidance. It is similarly ventured towards investing in researches, development, innovation and marketing in the supply of wool in the world.
Mitchell aims to maintain its stance as the biggest carboniser of wool, the principle buyer, processor and exporter of wool in Australia, best fibre researcher and commercial-oriented of new products. Mitchell is able to make good use of its experienced staff so as to acquire and manage new opportunities, getting involved in partnerships that supply the product and achieving the set needs that are of key consideration to customers; quality of product and service, speed in achieving the objectives, accuracy in service and product delivery, keeping consideration of the timing, affordable cost and the advancement of new products.
4. For each website, consider the following attributes and assess them on the following five-point semantic differential scale and, for each attribute, briefly explain why you give that rating:
1 2 3 4 5
Very Poor Poor Inapplicable Good Very Good
a. How does the website URL relate to the business name?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 5/5 Rating 4/5
The URL that is applied for this website is quite precise and easy to memorize hence suitable for the business prospect (www.wool.com; (Enterpreneur, 2000).
The URL that has been used for this website is derived from the name of the company and the product dealt in (www.mitchellwool.com), hence easy to remember for the targeted clients (Enterpreneur, 2000).
b. How easily is the website found using general internet search engines (e.g.: Google, Ask, AltaVista, Bing, Yahoo!)?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 5/5 Rating 4/5
The search for the website in the varied forms of search engines displayed a quick access with limited effort and available subtitles to ease ones access. The access of the websites using the varied forms of search engines displayed easy access though with limited information for a much faster access.
c. Does the website give me all the organizational information a user could reasonably require?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 3/5 Rating 4/5
The website does not provide a customer with sufficient information about the organization; it lays most of its information on the varied forms of activities it has performed. The website provides me with fairly sufficient information that I may require about the organization; the profile, history, responsibility, reliability, quality, scalability and careers.
d. Are requirements to provide a user’s (personal or sensitive) information appropriate?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 2/5 Rating 4/5
The website requires limited information for customers to access its information. Most of the information that may be required is provided. The website requires personal and sensitive information from the customer based on whether the customer wants to become a member of its club where hence the individual would be able to access information and data on the wool industry. It additionally has an info-choice option where advertisements are available on varied products and sensitive information is required to purchase them.
e. How well does the website reassure users about the security and use of their information?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 2/5 Rating 5/5
This website has a terms and conditions, in addition to the privacy policy, that is aimed at maintaining security (privacy) of information and its use. Information on stakeholder’s and customers are well handled. The website does offer reassurance of the privacy and security of information. The information is handled with the utmost confidence.
f. How well does the website foster user trust in the organization?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 2/5 Rating4/5
This website has a strict code of conduct and privacy policy that instills trust in the customers. This website has provided the user with the development group bestowed with the duty of developing the website and the organization forestalled with the responsibility of powering it. Moreover, the website has a strict privacy policy that instills trust in the customer.
g. How well does the website address legal issues associated with use of the website or engagement in transactions?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 2/5 Rating 3/5
The website has legal terms that address the use of service. This works in hand with the Copyright notice and AWI Privacy Policy The website’s legal issues are implemented using the privacy statement that is aimed at retaining privacy and confidence of information.
h. How well does the website provide for the accessibility needs of users?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 5/5 Rating 5/5
The website provides share registry service for shareholders The websites has a strict privacy policy that allows a reliable and secure access to personal information
i. How well does the website address the language or cultural needs of users?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 1/5 Rating 4/5
The website provides no language choice for the user or a different culture affiliation. The websites has a service that offers an automatic language selection but a risk notice is issued.
j. Does the website contain all the product information that a user could reasonably require?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 5/5 Rating 2/5
The website provides sufficient information the products sold. The websites has a vague information the type of products sold
k. Does the website allow all the customization (user-managed features) that a user could reasonably expect?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 5/5 Rating 5/5
The website provides customization service based on the user’s web browser or type of information. The website has interactive features that are exclusive and aimed to acquire competitive advantage.
l. How well does the website personalize the experience for users?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 1/5 Rating 1/5
The website has no personalization experience for the user. The website has no personalized experience for the user
m. Does the website identify sufficient channels for user service/support?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 5/5 Rating 1/5
The website has a sufficient and experienced staff that provides a wide range of services. The website has no efficient customer support service.
n. How easy is it to find any information on the website about the organization, their products or services?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 5/5 Rating 3/5
The search tool in the website is sufficiently helpful as it offers searches based on keywords, sections and the type of file. The efficiency of the search mechanism is helpful but not as efficient on specific instances.
o. How easy is the information on the website to read (i.e.: is provided information in appropriate language and with sufficient detail for most users)?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 5/5 Rating 2/5
The information provided is detailed and gives the customer sufficiency The information is precise and to the point.
p. Is the website easy to navigate (i.e.: move through the website to find information, products, or services, and engage in transactions with the organization)?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 5/5 Rating 3/5
The website provides an automatic navigation for information and most of the information is under a single window with limited navigation. As well as drop down navigation options of the sections. The web site has a drop down navigation option of the varied sections.
q. How appropriate are the website aesthetics (e.g.: use of layout, colors, imagery, fonts, etc.) for the target audience?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 5/5 Rating 3/5
The website aesthetic is quite lively, unique and interesting. The website aesthetic is simple and interesting.
r. How well does the website foster community among users?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 5/5 Rating 3/5
The website has an Australian Rural Leadership Program that aims to develop the community at the local and international levels. The website has a list of the several projects performed by the Mitchell Wool
s. How quickly does the website load into your browser and do all website features, links and embedded objects (e.g., media files or applets) work as intended?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 4/5 Rating 4/5
The website is fairly fast while loading and managing (linkvendor, 2011).
The website is fairly fast in operating it (linkvendor, 2011).
t. How well does the website support different web-browsers or platforms (e.g. mobile devices)?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 4/5 Rating 4/5
The website supports all types of web browsers (Device).
The website supports all types of web browsers (Device).
u. Does the website provide a sufficient range of payment options as could be reasonably expected?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 4/5 Rating 2/5
The website offers a secure payment with a license number or code. The website does not offer sufficient information on payment.
v. Does the website provide a sufficient range of delivery options as could be reasonably expected?
Australian Wool Innovation Mitchell
Rating 4/5 Rating 2/5
The website provides a 10 day delivery for the products on payment that is considered reliable. The website does not offer sufficient information on delivery.
5. Compare and contrast your chosen websites: which website is more likely to be successful than the other, and why?
My evaluation was based on the varied forms of layout structures, features and value of the content among other issues as stated above. According to my evaluation, the Australian Wool Innovation Limited website is by far the most successful website.
The Australian Wool Innovation Limited website at first glance presents a feeling of interactivity and liveliness, which appeals to the customers and keeps them interested in the features the website has to offer (successdesigns, 2009). The website has a wide range of information that enables him or her to acquire the necessary knowledge relevant before buying a product or accessing a service. Going hand in hand with the large size of information, there is an advanced form of search engine that breaks down the information needed by the customer to specific aspects more useful to the customer. Moreover, the website is precise and easier to remember and most of all it is secure and reliable.
The Mitchell Wool website on the other side is provides precise and to the point information; there is no enough information for the customer who requires the information before buying anything and sufficient reassurance as well (suck, 2011).
Bibliography
AWI. (2011). Retrieved August 22, 2011, from http://www.wool.com/default.htm
Device, M. (n.d.). Support service.
Entrepreneur, N. (2000). Choosing a web site address. Retrieved August 22, 2011, from http://www.newentrepreneur.com/Resources/Articles/Choosing_URL/choosing_url.html
Helfat, C. E. (2000, July 27). PRODUCT SEQUENCING, KNOWLEDGE, AND E-COMMERCE. Retrieved August 22, 2011, from http://www.uop.edu.jo/download/research/members/ProductSequencing.pdf
Link vendor. (2011). Retrieved August 22, 2011, from http://www.linkvendor.com/seo-tools/speedtester.html
Mitchell wool. (2008). Retrieved August 22, 2011, from http://www.michellwool.com/
Success designs. (2009, April 13). Eight Characteristics of a Good Website. Retrieved August 22, 2011, from http://www.successdesigns.net/articles/entry/characteristics-of-a-good-website/
Suck, w. p. (2011). Web Pages That Suck. Retrieved August 22, 2011, from http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/
