Discontinuous Change in University Web Sites: The Relative Importance of Reasons for Change

Journal of Information, Information Technology, and Organizations, Vol. 1, 2006

University of Alberta School of Business Research Paper No. 2013-420

16 Pages Posted: 26 May 2013

See all articles by Terry Ryan

Terry Ryan

Claremont Graduate University

Richard Field

University of Alberta - Department of Strategic Management and Organization

Lorne Olfman

Claremont Graduate University

Date Written: January 1, 2005

Abstract

An examination of prior Web pages shows that the typical university will sometimes make a dis-continuous change to its Web site (i.e., a sudden, major shift in a Web site between two points in time). This exploratory empirical study examines reasons for such discontinuous changes, survey-ing university Webmasters at a variety of institutions where discontinuous Web site changes had occurred. Universities varied by type (public, private), by level (Bachelors, Masters, PhD), and by nation (Canada, USA). Four reasons for discontinuous Web site change, identified in an earlier study of discontinuous Web site change in state governments, were compared: rational, market-ing, political, and institutional. According to the university Webmasters surveyed, rational reasons for change were most important, followed by marketing, institutional, and political reasons, in that order. The ordering of reasons reflects statistically significant differences among types of reasons. Results did not vary by type, level, or nation.

Keywords: discontinuous change, university, web site

Suggested Citation

Ryan, Terry and Field, Richard and Olfman, Lorne, Discontinuous Change in University Web Sites: The Relative Importance of Reasons for Change (January 1, 2005). Journal of Information, Information Technology, and Organizations, Vol. 1, 2006 , University of Alberta School of Business Research Paper No. 2013-420, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2269866

Terry Ryan (Contact Author)

Claremont Graduate University ( email )

150 E. Tenth Street
Claremont, CA 91711
United States

Richard Field

University of Alberta - Department of Strategic Management and Organization ( email )

Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2R6
Canada

Lorne Olfman

Claremont Graduate University ( email )

150 E. Tenth Street
Claremont, CA 91711
United States

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