Typical examples of features or functions that fall under each of the purpose-value combination are listed as follows. This list is compiled from the sites under study and is by no means exhaustive or definitive. While covering all the major functions in current practice, it will most certainly expand as innovative features are realized to take full advantage of the Web. To appreciate the usefulness of this classification scheme, let us examine briefly how it is derived for Web sites in general. Consider first the distinction among the purposes.
Promotion is specific to the products and services that a business offers to customers.
Provision pertains to the supply of information to gain good will, exposure, credibility, or to expedite communication. Processing refers to those business transactions that are beyond the generation of sales leads by promotion. The kinds of value created by any given feature of a Web site may not be obvious. Timely value applies to time-sensitive information, and not to the speed of its delivery. Quarterly earnings as a news item is timely, but not as part of an archived financial report, even when the latter can be downloaded at the click of a mouse.