A Survey On The Adaptation Of China Company Web Sites Design Of English Version From The Cross-cultural Perspective

Cross-cultural web sites design studies has been a newly emerging branch of Cross-cultural communication studies correlated with Information Communication Technology (ICT).Intercultural theories are applied into the ICT field, especially for the web sites design and software design, where Dutch scholar Geert Hofstede's five cultural dimensions are extensively adopted by previous studies.China's fast economic growth stimulates more and more local companies seeking for business opportunities in the international market, where internet is to be their preferred means with consideration of its distinct features such as spatial and economical convenience. So the company's web site turns to be the critical element in this cross-cultural communication with customers in various cultures.To explore issues of to what extent the adaptation of China's company web sites design of English version is, a study was conducted analyzing sites in American and China. Design elements considered are use of symbols and graphics, color, preferences, site features (links, maps, search functions, page layout), language and content. Outcomes from the study are used to discuss future research directions in the areas of experience design and localization and provide valuable information for Chinese enterprises when designing their oversea web sites.