Abstract
Functional complexity is a widespread and underresearched phenomenon in Web sites. This article explores a specific case of functional complexity by analyzing the content of UNESCO World Heritage Web sites, which have to meet demands from both World Heritage and tourism perspectives. Based on a functional analysis, a content checklist was developed and used to evaluate a sample of 30 World Heritage Web sites. The results show that World Heritage Web sites generally fall short in all content categories. A cluster analysis reveals three types of World Heritage Web sites based on their emphasis on World Heritage content versus tourism content: (a) less well-developed Web sites (no emphasis), (b) Web sites of World Heritage Sites with touristic possibilities (emphasis on World Heritage), and (c) Web sites of touristic attractions with outstanding cultural or natural value (emphasis on tourism). In all, the findings show that functional complexity poses serious threats to the exhaustiveness of a Web site’s information and that evaluation approaches based on functional analysis can be useful in detecting blindspots in the content provided.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 347-372 |
| Number of pages | 26 |
| Journal | Journal of business and technical communication |
| Volume | 32 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Jul 2018 |
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Keywords
- UT-Hybrid-D
- functional analysis
- functional complexity
- tourism
- UNESCO
- Web site design
- Web site evaluation
- World Heritage
- content strategy
Cite this
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Functional Complexity and Web Site Design : Evaluating the Online Presence of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. / De Jong, Menno D.T. (Corresponding Author); Wu, Yuguang.
In: Journal of business and technical communication, Vol. 32, No. 3, 01.07.2018, p. 347-372.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Functional Complexity and Web Site Design
T2 - Evaluating the Online Presence of UNESCO World Heritage Sites
AU - De Jong, Menno D.T.
AU - Wu, Yuguang
N1 - Sage deal
PY - 2018/7/1
Y1 - 2018/7/1
N2 - Functional complexity is a widespread and underresearched phenomenon in Web sites. This article explores a specific case of functional complexity by analyzing the content of UNESCO World Heritage Web sites, which have to meet demands from both World Heritage and tourism perspectives. Based on a functional analysis, a content checklist was developed and used to evaluate a sample of 30 World Heritage Web sites. The results show that World Heritage Web sites generally fall short in all content categories. A cluster analysis reveals three types of World Heritage Web sites based on their emphasis on World Heritage content versus tourism content: (a) less well-developed Web sites (no emphasis), (b) Web sites of World Heritage Sites with touristic possibilities (emphasis on World Heritage), and (c) Web sites of touristic attractions with outstanding cultural or natural value (emphasis on tourism). In all, the findings show that functional complexity poses serious threats to the exhaustiveness of a Web site’s information and that evaluation approaches based on functional analysis can be useful in detecting blindspots in the content provided.
AB - Functional complexity is a widespread and underresearched phenomenon in Web sites. This article explores a specific case of functional complexity by analyzing the content of UNESCO World Heritage Web sites, which have to meet demands from both World Heritage and tourism perspectives. Based on a functional analysis, a content checklist was developed and used to evaluate a sample of 30 World Heritage Web sites. The results show that World Heritage Web sites generally fall short in all content categories. A cluster analysis reveals three types of World Heritage Web sites based on their emphasis on World Heritage content versus tourism content: (a) less well-developed Web sites (no emphasis), (b) Web sites of World Heritage Sites with touristic possibilities (emphasis on World Heritage), and (c) Web sites of touristic attractions with outstanding cultural or natural value (emphasis on tourism). In all, the findings show that functional complexity poses serious threats to the exhaustiveness of a Web site’s information and that evaluation approaches based on functional analysis can be useful in detecting blindspots in the content provided.
KW - UT-Hybrid-D
KW - functional analysis
KW - functional complexity
KW - tourism
KW - UNESCO
KW - Web site design
KW - Web site evaluation
KW - World Heritage
KW - content strategy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85044228353&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1050651918762029
DO - 10.1177/1050651918762029
M3 - Article
VL - 32
SP - 347
EP - 372
JO - Journal of business and technical communication
JF - Journal of business and technical communication
SN - 1050-6519
IS - 3
ER -