A Qualitative Study of E-Business Adoption in the Real Estate Sector in China

Yan Sun, Okwenna Ifeanyi

International Business School, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou, China.

DOI: 10.4236/jss.2014.23012                

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate e-business adoption into real estate agencies in China. This research focuses on the advantages and disadvantages of IT/IS (Information Technology/Information Systems) integration through face to face interviews with property agency managers in Suzhou. Particularly, it looks into the real estate sector in China today and provides implications to improve service quality and stay competitive within local real estate agencies in Suzhou, China. The objective of this study is to show that e-business if properly deployed can improve the service quality and increase general performance of real estate agencies in China; also, to propose a few implications to bring to light the problems faced by real estate agents currently in China today.

Keywords

Real Estate; Websites; Agents; Search Engine Optimization; Personal Profile; China

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Jackson P. and Harris L. (2003) E-Business and Organizational Change: Reconciling Traditional Values with Business Transformation. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 16, 497-511. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09534810310494900
[2]	Li, L.H. and Chen, W. (2006) Real Estate Agency in China in the Information Age. Property Management, 24, 47-61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02637470610643119
[3]	Razali, M.N., Manaf, Z. and Yassin A.M. (2010) Internet Business Strategies by Property Companies in Asia. Property Management, 28, 270-289. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02637471011065692
[4]	Robeiro, F.L. and Love, P.E.D. (2003) Value Creation through an E-Business Strategy: Implication for SMEs in Construction. Construction Innovation: Information, Process, Management, 3, 3-14.
[5]	Amit, R. and Zott, C. (2001) Entrepreneurial Strategies for Wealth Creation. Strategic Management Journal, 22, 493- 520. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smj.187
[6]	Ifinedo, P. (2011) Internet/e-Business Technologies Acceptance in Canada’s SMEs: An Exploratory Investigation. Internet Research, 21, 255-281. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10662241111139309
[7]	Dixon, T. (2005) The Impact of Information and Communications Technology on Commercial Real Estate in the New Economy. Journal of Property Investment & Finance, 23, 480-493. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14635780510626529
[8]	Yeh, C.H., Lee, G.G. and Pai, J.C. (2012) How Information System Capability Affects E-Business Information Technology Strategy Implementation: An Empirical Study in Taiwan. Business Process Management Journal, 18, 197-218. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14637151211225171
[9]	Smith, A.D. (2004) Cybercriminal Impacts on Online Business and Consumer Confidence. Online Information Review, 28, 224-234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14684520410543670
[10]	Lesjak, D. and Vehovar, V. (2005) Factors Affecting Evaluation of E-Business Projects. Management & Data Systems, 105, 409-428. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02635570510592334
[11]	Rowley, J. (2005) The Evolution of Internet Business Strategy: The Case of UK Estate Agency. Property Management, 23, 217-226. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02637470510603556
[12]	Tuzovic, S. (2008) Investigating the Concept of Potential Quality: An Exploratory Study in the Real Estate Industry. Managing Service Quality, 18, 255-271. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/09604520810871874
[13]	Zhang, X., Shen, L., Wu, Y. and Peng, Y. (2010) Core Competitiveness Indicators: A Study Of Real Estate Developers in China. Facilities, 28, 526-541. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02632771011066585
[14]	Wong, X., Yen, D.C. and Fang, X. (2004) E-Commerce Development in China and Its Implication for Business. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, 16, 68-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/13555850410765230
[15]	Chen, L.C. and Luh, C.J. (2005), Web Page Prediction from Metasearch Results. Internet Research, 15, 421-446. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10662240510615182
[16]	Garoufallou, E. (2012) Evaluating Search Engines: A Comparative Study between International and Greek SE by Greek Librarians. Program: Electronic Library and Information Systems, 46, 182-198. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/00330331211221837
[17]	Evans, M.P. (2007) Analysing Google Rankings through Search Engine Optimization Data. Internet Research, 17, 21- 37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/10662240710730470
[18]	Gofman, A., Moskowitz, H.R. and Mets, T. (2009) Integrating Science into Web Design: Consumer-Driven Web Site Optimization. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 26, 286-298. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/07363760910965882
[19]	Sen, R. (2005) Optimal Search Engine Marketing Strategy. International Journal of Electronic Commerce, 10, 9-25
[20]	Ball, D., Coelho, P.S. and Vilares, M.J. (2006) Service Personalization and Loyalty. Journal of Services Marketing, 20, 391-403. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/08876040610691284