Bachelorarbeit, 2020
85 Seiten, Note: 2.3
1 Introduction
1.1 Research Question
1.2 Objective
1.3 Methodological Procedure
2 Collaborative Consumption
2.1 Definition
2.2 Role of the platform
2.3 Relevant Markets
2.4 Types of Collaborative Consumption
2.5 Driving Forces
2.6 Motives of use
3 Methodology
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Development of the Questionnaire
3.3 Execution of the Research
4 Data Analysis
5 Discussion
6 Conclusion
6.1 Summary
6.2 Achievement of Objective
6.3 Outlook
The primary objective of this paper is to establish a theoretical foundation for understanding the concept of Collaborative Consumption and to conduct an empirical study analyzing its impact on consumer habits, specifically examining motives, consumption patterns, and future expectations across different consumer groups.
2.1 Definition
Collaborative Consumption, as an umbrella concept for commercial or non-profit, platform-based exchange of underutilized goods or services between a variety of participants is not the only term used for this type of activity. Amongst others, the sharing economy, access-based consumption, crowd-based capitalism, and the mesh are the most known alternatives, commonly used in a synonymous way. Still, there are exceptions, as few scientists criticize some of the denotations. For example, some disagreement is existing on the term sharing economy, due to the opinion that sharing is a way of social exchange, taking place between people known to each other and neglecting any kind of profit orientation. However, the core understanding of these approaches overlaps to a great extent. For the aim of consistency, these conceptions will be considered under the name Collaborative Consumption.
The term Collaborative Consumption was coined by Felson and Spaeth for the first time, who define it as “those events in which one or more persons consume economic goods or services in the process of engaging in joint activities with one or more others.” As an early adoption of this approach, its understanding is different than what is today associated with Collaborative Consumption. Felson and Spaeth focus on the consumption aspect in an offline world without intermediaries. They refer to common joint activities like having a drink or meal with relatives and friends or sharing household appliances within the family.
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of the history of sharing and introduces the research question regarding the potential of Collaborative Consumption to transform consumer habits.
2 Collaborative Consumption: Establishes the theoretical framework by defining the concept, discussing the role of platforms, and outlining major market sectors and types of sharing systems.
3 Methodology: Details the research design, including the use of an online survey and snowball sampling to gather empirical data on consumer attitudes and behaviors.
4 Data Analysis: Presents the findings from the empirical study, analyzing the socio-demographic sample and identifying key consumption patterns and motives among different user groups.
5 Discussion: Reflects on the empirical results in the context of the theoretical background, addressing limitations and providing insights into the future outlook of the sharing economy.
6 Conclusion: Summarizes the key findings of the research and assesses the achievement of the paper's initial objectives.
Collaborative Consumption, Sharing Economy, Consumer Habits, Platform Economy, Peer-to-Peer, Sustainability, Transaction Costs, Digital Platforms, Mobility, Hospitality, Consumer Behavior, Business Models, Sustainability, Quantitative Analysis, Socio-demographics.
The paper examines the impact of Collaborative Consumption on modern consumer habits, evaluating whether these practices have the potential to sustainably transform traditional consumption behaviors.
The core topics include the definition and evolution of Collaborative Consumption, the role of digital platforms in reducing transaction costs, and an analysis of consumer motives and usage patterns.
The objective is to combine a theoretical understanding of the sharing economy with empirical data to determine which factors drive participation and how consumer groups differ in their usage of sharing services.
The paper employs quantitative research, specifically an online survey conducted cross-sectionally, utilizing snowball sampling to reach a representative sample for analysis.
It provides a theoretical overview of relevant markets (mobility, media, etc.), types of sharing systems, and driving forces, followed by a detailed analysis of survey results regarding consumer attitudes.
Key terms include Collaborative Consumption, Sharing Economy, Consumer Habits, Digital Platforms, Peer-to-Peer, and Sustainable Consumption.
Regular consumers, defined as users of two or more forms of sharing, demonstrate stronger preferences for efficiency, innovation, and have a higher propensity to trust strangers compared to enthusiasts.
The platform acts as a crucial facilitator that reduces transaction costs—such as triangulation, transfer, and trust-building—thereby making sharing activities more accessible and profitable.
Contrary to some literature, the study indicates that in the German context, cost-savings and flexibility are significantly stronger drivers for participation than the desire for community building or social networking.
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