Web Site Evaluation Index: A systematic methodology and a metric system for the assessment of the quality of web sites DIMITRIOS XANTHIDIS, PARIS ARGYRIDES and DAVID NICHOLAS University College London xanthidisdim@gmail.com Abstract: - In a previous paper the authors introduced a template for the evaluation of web sites. This was tested using a sample of a number of Greek companies’ web sites and it proved to be useful enough as a general evaluation tool. Soon thereafter the authors realized the need to come up with a measurement and a metric system as a step ahead of that evaluation template. The WSEI (Web Site Evaluation Index) can be used not just to evaluate if a website is good or not, but also, how good it is especially when compared with other of similar quality. Key-Words: - Evaluation template, web sites, measurement, metric, internet, eCommerce 1 Introduction The exponential increase of the number of web sites currently available on the Net together with the rapid growth of eCommerce activity especially in the developing digital economies lead the authors to design a template that could be used to evaluate the quality characteristics of these web sites. This evaluation template was introduced in a previous paper, tested using a sample of 232 Greek companies’ web sites of a considerable size and proved that a systematic methodology can be formed, to allow website designers to create more attractive and functional websites [1]. The evolution of the internet technologies, however, brings higher connection speed, improved security protocols, advanced content delivery mechanisms and more attractive design tools. Hence, the authors decided it was necessary to update the suggested Web Site Evaluation Template (WSET), by including new features and possibly, omitting obsolete elements. The updated Web Site Evaluation Index, from now on WSEI, attempts to improve the rating system of certain aspects of websites, which are not easily measurable, such as attractiveness, which depend more on personal opinion rather than scientific assessment. More important than this, however, by utilizing the Web Site Evaluation Index, we are proposing a metric that will not only evaluate if a website is good or not, a suggestion rather than a scientific evaluation, but also how good it is when compared to other similar web sites. Having a metric rather than just a measurement is important because it provides feedback that the designer can use to improve the current website elements. Suggesting that a website is good or bad does not help pinpoint the elements that need to be added or modified and to what extent. This study is divided into two parts. In this first part, the WSEI is introduced and explained thoroughly both in terms of how it was designed and how it can be used. In the second part (a paper following) the WSEI is used to evaluate a sample of international Web sites in an attempt to test whether its application is feasible and its results interpretable. 2 Aims and Objectives The aim of this first part of the study is to introduce the Web Site Evaluation Index (WSEI) and its use in assessing the quality of a web site. For this purpose the following steps were followed:  Update the previous Web Site Evaluation Template to encompass newly introduced internet technologies such as updated security features, content delivery mechanisms and compatibility features with other than desktop PC devices.  Check existing evaluation measures to ensure whether they are still applicable by today’s standards.  Omit those vague issues such as a website being “appropriate and appealing” which may not be objectively evaluated.  Attach a “value” tag on each of the measurement points that will help the assessment process of the web site using this methodology. 3 Background Previous research showed that the website structure could be separated into four key dimensions (i.e. stickiness, customization and globalization, accessibility/availability and hard/software requirements and security and privacy) each containing several inter-related elements [1]. The Proceedings of the 8th WSEAS International Conference on Telecommunications and Informatics ISSN: 1790-5117 194 ISBN: 978-960-474-084-0