Title
Multihoming Behavior Of Users In Social Networking Web Sites: A Theoretical Model
Abstract
Purpose - This paper aims to investigate the multihoming behavior of users on social networking web sites in the absence or the presence of product differentiation.Design/methodology/approach - The approach is to build a theoretical model to explain the multihoming behavior of users on social networking web sites.Findings - Under multihoming without product differentiation, all members of the smaller network multihome to the bigger network and the social networking web site with the bigger network size benefits from multihoming. Under multihoming with product differentiation, when the smaller network differentiates its product from the bigger network, then all members of the bigger network will multihome to the smaller network. Welfare is higher for both sided multihoming and both sided multihoming will happen only when the social networking web sites are differentiated in terms of features.Research limitations/implications - The model is a theoretical model and will need to be tested empirically.Practical implications - The results of the model indicate that multihoming results in increased utility for the users of social networking web sites when the two web sites are differentiated in terms of features.Originality/value - From the literature available in the public domain, the paper has not found any existing theoretical model to explain multihoming behavior of users on social networking web sites. The paper fulfils this objective.
Year
DOI
Venue
2011
10.1108/09593841111182250
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & PEOPLE
Keywords
Field
DocType
Multihoming, Network externality, Product differentiation, Utility, Social networking, Internet behaviour, Communication technologies, Non-financial benefits, Consumer behaviour
Multihoming,Internet privacy,Social network,Public domain,Advertising,Consumer behaviour,Knowledge management,Network effect,Engineering,Welfare,Wright,Product differentiation
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
24
4
0959-3845
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
9
0.49
10
Authors
2
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Monika Mital1183.43
Sumit Sarkar2835260.90