The Complex User of Sustainable Technologies – A qualitative study of factors that enable and constrain consumers to adopt food waste reduction apps
(2020) BUSN39 20201Department of Business Administration
- Abstract
- Thesis purpose: The aim of this study is to identify enablers and constraints for consumers to adopt food waste reduction apps. Consequently, it contributes to the field of innovation diffusion and, importantly, consumer adoption of technological innovations.
Methodology: This exploratory study uses qualitative methods to investigate consumer values, expectations and experiences as the main unit of analysis. Following an abductive approach, the conducted literature review constitutes the basis for the data collection and analysis as well as for the development of an own theoretical framework.
Theoretical perspective: This study sources literature from the fields of innovation diffusion and consumer adoption in the context of... (More) - Thesis purpose: The aim of this study is to identify enablers and constraints for consumers to adopt food waste reduction apps. Consequently, it contributes to the field of innovation diffusion and, importantly, consumer adoption of technological innovations.
Methodology: This exploratory study uses qualitative methods to investigate consumer values, expectations and experiences as the main unit of analysis. Following an abductive approach, the conducted literature review constitutes the basis for the data collection and analysis as well as for the development of an own theoretical framework.
Theoretical perspective: This study sources literature from the fields of innovation diffusion and consumer adoption in the context of sustainable and technological innovations. Further, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Value-Belief-Norm-Theory (VBN) have been merged to increase the study’s understanding.
Empirical data: The empirical data was collected through 20 semi-structured interviews with users and non-users of the food waste reduction apps Karma, ResQ and Too Good To Go. The participants were aged between 21 to 30 years and from different countries in Europe.
Conclusion: The findings from this study indicate that personal values influence consumer adoption of food waste reduction apps by formulating expectations that are contrasted with the actual experience. Prominently, egoistic and biospheric values drive the adoption if they are met by the apps and, further, work in tandem.
Practical implications: This study encourages companies to frame their pro-environmental products and services in the context of consumers’ set of values to establish a mutual relationship. Yet, it also urges to focus on the core purpose of serving sustainability and to evaluate market sentiments to constantly develop further together with the consumers. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9025055
- author
- Brännström, Tuva LU and Siebert, Lara Kristina LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BUSN39 20201
- year
- 2020
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- innovation diffusion, technology adoption, pro-environmental behavior, apps, food waste reduction
- language
- English
- id
- 9025055
- date added to LUP
- 2020-07-30 11:57:08
- date last changed
- 2020-07-30 11:57:08
@misc{9025055,
abstract = {{Thesis purpose: The aim of this study is to identify enablers and constraints for consumers to adopt food waste reduction apps. Consequently, it contributes to the field of innovation diffusion and, importantly, consumer adoption of technological innovations.
Methodology: This exploratory study uses qualitative methods to investigate consumer values, expectations and experiences as the main unit of analysis. Following an abductive approach, the conducted literature review constitutes the basis for the data collection and analysis as well as for the development of an own theoretical framework.
Theoretical perspective: This study sources literature from the fields of innovation diffusion and consumer adoption in the context of sustainable and technological innovations. Further, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Value-Belief-Norm-Theory (VBN) have been merged to increase the study’s understanding.
Empirical data: The empirical data was collected through 20 semi-structured interviews with users and non-users of the food waste reduction apps Karma, ResQ and Too Good To Go. The participants were aged between 21 to 30 years and from different countries in Europe.
Conclusion: The findings from this study indicate that personal values influence consumer adoption of food waste reduction apps by formulating expectations that are contrasted with the actual experience. Prominently, egoistic and biospheric values drive the adoption if they are met by the apps and, further, work in tandem.
Practical implications: This study encourages companies to frame their pro-environmental products and services in the context of consumers’ set of values to establish a mutual relationship. Yet, it also urges to focus on the core purpose of serving sustainability and to evaluate market sentiments to constantly develop further together with the consumers.}},
author = {{Brännström, Tuva and Siebert, Lara Kristina}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{The Complex User of Sustainable Technologies – A qualitative study of factors that enable and constrain consumers to adopt food waste reduction apps}},
year = {{2020}},
}