Factors influencing web accessibility of big listed firms: An international study

Submitted by mlb78 on Fri, 09/16/2016 - 17:23
TitleFactors influencing web accessibility of big listed firms: An international study
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2010
AuthorsDe Andrés, Javier, Lorca, Pedro, and Martínez, Ana B.
JournalOnline Information Review
Volume34
Issue1
Pagination75-97
Keywordsinternet, worldwide web
AbstractPurpose -- This paper aims to identify the factors influencing the implementation of web accessibility Design/methodology/approach -- Following the theoretical framework three\nhypotheses were developed. The database consisted of 108 non-financial firms listed in the Dow Jones Industrial. CAC-40, DAX and IBEX35 indexes. A multivariate regression equation was used to test the hypotheses Findings -- Reasons for the implementation of web accessibility are\ntechnical rather than social or financial The implementation of web accessibility is aimed at increasing the efficiency of the operations of the firm. Furthermore, web accessibility policies are more important in\ncountries where the incorporation of the firms into the net has taken place at a date some time after the beginning of the scheme. Research implications -- An implication of the results is the advisability of orienting governmental policies to raise awareness that web accessibility should be part of corporate social responsibility activities. Originality/value -- This is a pioneering empirical study of the factors influencing web accessibility. The results of the present research are of interest to other countries.
NotesThis article tested whether the decision of a firm to implement web accessibility was influenced by social, financial or CSR strategy related factors. In order to conduct the study, researchers selected four countries, namely the USA, France, Germany and Spain, and studied the listed companies in selected indexed. Several metrics were used to measure the web accessibility of these firms including the WCAG and the Web Accessiblity Barrier (WAB) metric. The result showed that reasons for the implementation of web accessibility were primarily operational rather than social or financial. This indicated that the consumer-orientation status seemed to exert little influence on the implementation of accessibility for a firm.
DOI10.1108/14684521011024137