The role of collaborative consumption

Table of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Research questions

1.2 Preliminary definitions

1.3 Research structure

2 COLLABORATIVE CONSUMPTION

2.1 Definition

2.2 Indicators

2.2.1 Value shifts.

2.2.2 The new generation.

2.2.3 New marketplaces.

2.3 Systems

2.3.1 Product service systems.

2.3.2 Redistribution markets.

2.3.3 Collaborative lifestyles.

2.4 Principles

2.4.1 Critical mass.

2.4.2 Idling capacity.

2.4.3 Belief in the commons.

2.4.4 Trust between strangers.

2.5 Drivers of collaborative consumption

2.5.1 Peer-to-peer technologies

2.5.2 Communities.

2.5.3 Price consciousness.

2.5.4 Experience.

2.5.5 Profits.

2.5.6 Environmental concerns.

2.5.7 Access over ownership.

3 HYPER-CONSUMPTION

3.1 The beginning of hyper-consumptions

3.2 Features

3.3 Characteristics

3.4 Internal drivers

3.5 External drivers

4 CONCLUSION OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW

5 EMPIRICAL STUDY

5.1 Introduction to empirical research

5.1.1 New business opportunities.

5.1.2 Developments of product service systems.

5.1.3 Developments of redistribution markets.

5.1.4 Developments of collaborative lifestyles.

5.1.5 Development of research questions and hypothesis.

5.2 Method of empirical work

5.2.1 Exploratory study.

5.2.2 The instrument.

5.2.3 Data collection and descriptive statistics.

5.2.4 Analysis procedure.

6 FINDINGS

6.1 Analysis of usage

6.1.1 Socio-demographics and usage.

6.1.2 Personality and usage.

6.2 Analysis of types

6.2.1 Socio-demographics and types.

6.2.2 Personality and types.

6.3 Analysis of ‘non-participation drivers’

6.3.1 Socio-demographics and ‘non-participation drivers.’

6.3.2 Personality and ‘non-participation drivers.’

6.4 Analysis of ‘participation drivers’

6.4.1 Socio-demographics and ‘participation drivers.’

6.4.2 Personality and ‘participation drivers.’

7 DISCUSSION

7.1 Managerial implications

7.1.1 Usage.

7.1.2 Types.

7.1.3 ‘Non-participation drivers.’

7.1.4 ‘Participation drivers.’

7.2 Limitations

7.3 Future research

8 CONCLUSION

Research Objective and Thematic Focus

The primary objective of this thesis is to investigate whether collaborative consumption is a temporary phase or a niche market that will develop into a new status quo, potentially redefining business models. It seeks to analyze the drivers, types, and usage patterns of collaborative consumption while examining the influence of socio-demographics and personality types.

• The impact of industrialization and hyper-consumption on global consumption patterns.
• The definition, principles, and systemic foundations of collaborative consumption.
• Empirical evaluation of usage patterns and participation drivers across North America, Europe, and Asia.
• Managerial implications for businesses regarding channel strategies and customer engagement.
• Analysis of individual behaviors using Myers-Briggs Type Indicators (MBTI) in relation to consumption trends.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1 INTRODUCTION: Outlines the research questions, the motivation behind investigating collaborative consumption as a potential status quo, and the structure of the study.

2 COLLABORATIVE CONSUMPTION: Provides a comprehensive definition and analysis of the indicators, systems (product service, redistribution, lifestyle), and core principles of collaborative consumption.

3 HYPER-CONSUMPTION: Examines the currently dominant economic model of hyper-consumption, its historical evolution, and its drivers such as planned obsolescence.

4 CONCLUSION OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: Synthesizes the theoretical findings to prepare the ground for the empirical research study.

5 EMPIRICAL STUDY: Details the methodology, survey design, and hypothesis formulation used for the quantitative analysis of participants' behaviors and preferences.

6 FINDINGS: Presents the empirical results concerning usage patterns, types of collaborative consumption, and the influence of socio-demographics and personality on drivers.

7 DISCUSSION: Interprets the findings by providing managerial implications for companies, discussing study limitations, and outlining future research directions.

8 CONCLUSION: Summarizes the thesis, emphasizing that while collaborative consumption is growing, its long-term future as a dominant paradigm requires further observation.

Keywords

Collaborative Consumption, Hyper-consumption, Product Service Systems, Redistribution Markets, Collaborative Lifestyles, Idle Capacity, Critical Mass, Belief in the Commons, Trust, MBTI, Consumer Behavior, Sustainability, Peer-to-Peer, Digital Age, Marketing Strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fundamental goal of this master thesis?

The study aims to determine whether the trend of collaborative consumption is merely a niche or a movement capable of evolving into a new economic status quo.

Which key concepts are at the core of this research?

The work focuses on the contrast and transition between traditional hyper-consumption, characterized by ownership and excess, and collaborative consumption, which prioritizes access and usage.

What methodology does the author use for empirical data?

The research uses an exploratory approach based on an online survey distributed to participants in North America and Europe, analyzing data using statistical methods such as chi-square tests.

What are the primary systems of collaborative consumption identified?

The author categorizes collaborative consumption into three main systems: product service systems, redistribution markets, and collaborative lifestyles.

How does personality influence consumer behavior in this study?

The study incorporates Myers-Briggs Type Indicators (MBTI) to analyze whether different personality dichotomies—such as extraversion versus introversion—correlate with preferences for collaborative services.

What role do "participation drivers" play?

Participation drivers, such as community, environmental concerns, and price consciousness, are identified as factors influencing why individuals choose to engage with collaborative consumption platforms.

How does the Internet facilitate the principle of "idling capacity"?

The Internet and mobile technologies enable individuals to efficiently locate and share underutilized assets (like tools, spare rooms, or car seats) that would otherwise remain idle.

What are the identified "non-participation drivers"?

The research examines factors that hinder adoption, such as concerns regarding privacy, time investment, lack of reliability, and the perceived necessity of ownership.