Sharing intangibles: Uncovering individual motives for engagement in a sharing service setting
Journal
Journal of Business Research : JBR
ISSN
0148-2963
ISSN-Digital
1873-7978
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2017-06
Author(s)
Abstract
The sharing economy has shifted the way in which goods and services are consumed - from exclusive ownership toward collective usage with economic benefits. Current literature addresses consumer motives to participate in commercial sharing of goods and services with a physical manifestation. In contrast, this study shows the relevance of intangibility for sharing services and empirically examines consumers' motives, perceptions, and experiences in the context of a new insurance model. A qualitative investigation reveals three main characteristics of intangible service sharing: financial benefits as a main motivator for participation, emerging weak social and symbolic values in a controlled environment, and a network of strangers as a crucial precondition for sharing. The work contributes to research on the sharing economy as well as to managerial considerations for the design of sharing services. In particular, managers need to balance between community development and the preservation of anonymity when promoting sharing services based on intangible elements.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
HSG Profile Area
SoM - Business Innovation
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Elsevier
Publisher place
New York, NY
Volume
75
Start page
159
End page
171
Official URL
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
250498