Aim of the study was to discuss and identify individual differences that influence the user performance during usability tests of consumer products that are known to prevent researchers to conduct systematic studies. The rationale behind the study was developing a tool for sampling in order to handle experiential factors as a variable rather than a source of error. The study made it possible to define and elaborate on constructs general interaction expertise (GIE) and general interaction self efficacy (GISE), and to devise a measurement scheme based on performance observation and attitude measurement. Both perspectives were evaluated with preliminary validity studies and it was possible to provide evidence on predictive validity of the tool developed. Furthermore, opportunities of utilizing the results in design and qualitative research settings were also explored.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:34:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:04:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T12:34:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-09T14:04:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 / O conceito de qualidade dos alimentos, na visão do consumidor, reflete a satisfação de características como sabor, aroma, aparência, embalagem e disponibilidade. Fatores econômicos e sociais como o custo e hábitos alimentares geralmente também têm influência sobre a escolha do produto. A irradiação é uma técnica eficiente na conservação dos alimentos, pois reduz as perdas naturais causadas pelos processos fisiológicos, além de eliminar ou reduzir microrganismos, parasitas e pragas, sem causar qualquer prejuízo ao alimento, tornando-os mais seguros ao consumidor; porém, pode haver aumento no custo dos alimentos. Pesquisas apontam que a praticidade é uma característica já incorporada pelo consumidor, o preço pode ser um fator de restrição à popularização do produto irradiado, embora alguns consumidores considerem que, devido ao fato de evitar desperdícios, o aumento do custo pode ser viável. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o custo do uso da tecnologia de irradiação de alimentos e verificar se os consumidores, quando informados sobre as vantagens na segurança alimentar, estão dispostos a pagar por este tratamento, bem como o quanto estão dispostos a pagar. A metodologia consistiu em um estudo sobre a viabilidade econômica da implantação da tecnologia de irradiação de alimentos por meio de um levantamento sistemático da literatura especializada, com o intuito de verificar o custo de implantação e o acréscimo que o produtor terá em relação ao custo da tecnologia. Também foi realizada uma pesquisa em uma Instituição de Ensino Superior sobre a predisposição do consumidor em arcar com este custo. Os resultados do estudo indicam um acréscimo, ao produtor, que pode variar de US$ 0,01 a US$ 0,25 por quilograma e também indicam que 75% dos consumidores entrevistados aceitam pagar mais pelo alimento irradiado. A partir desses resultados, concluiu-se que quanto maior o poder aquisitivo, maior a predisposição em arcar com o acréscimo ao custo do alimento irradiado. / Tese (Doutoramento) / IPEN/T / Instituto de Pesquisas Energeticas e Nucleares - IPEN-CNEN/SP

Despite the advent of technology into consumers’ daily lives, many consumers are plagued by feelings of fear towards complex technology-related products. Feelings of anxiety and fear often lead to the avoidance of technology; in other words, so-called ‘technophobia’. This study aims to establish whether gender differences in technophobia and the adoption of high-technology consumer products continue to exist in this digital age, or whether they have indeed changed over time. Further, this study also aims to uncover the main social reasons that gender differences in technophobia can occur. The results of this study provide new insight into gender differences towards technology purchases. The findings should assist marketers by providing a clearer understanding of how men and women adopt new technology products in the 21st century. By understanding gender differences in attitudes towards technology, marketers are better able to target and communicate technology benefits that consumers can relate to and appreciate. Following a review of the available literature, the theory of the diffusion of innovation was presented as a foundation to studies of gender differences in technophobia. The Technology Readiness Index (TRI) was introduced as a sound means of measuring technophobia, based on an in-depth study of the available measurement scales to measure for technophobia. The study included men and women, aged between 25 and 35 years, of higher socio-economic classes, residing in the Northern Johannesburg regions of South Africa. Gender differences in levels of technophobia are studied in relation to three different technologies (computers, DSLR cameras and home automation technology) in order to compare gender differences towards technologies at different stages of the diffusion curve. Future research avenues regarding studies in to technophobia are also presented. The results indicate that traditional differences between genders towards technology still exist amongst South African consumers. Women continue to experience higher levels of technophobia towards new technology than men. However, the degree of these differences changes, depending on the technology used. Regarding why these gender differences may occur, levels of optimism, risk taking and cognitive involvement between genders were measured. In general, the results indicate that traditional gender differences towards technology continue to exist in South Africa. Thus, although marketers may assume that in the modern digital age, men and women are consuming electronics in the same manner, this study shows that this is not necessarily the case, and as a new product is introduced to the market, marketers need to employ differentiating strategies in order to target both men and women successfully. By tailoring the manner in which technology is advertised and shared to the female consumer, marketers are better able to capture this more ‘technophobic’ consumer. The advertising of technologies exasperates the gender divide by confirming established sex role stereotypes, and managers need to learn to differentiate and cater for both genders when advertising technology products. This study illustrates that the degree of technophobia women possess towards technology depends on the technology and its ‘inherent gender bias’ and marketers need to adapt their communications according to the technology being sold. Marketers in the electronics industry cannot have a ‘one-hat-fits-all’ assumption of women and technology, and need to analyse the ‘technology fit’ and communicate it to the market accordingly. By uncovering the social reasons why gender differences continue to exist, advertisers can use these inherent gender differences to test and design advertisements that improve female beliefs about the technology. Marketers are encouraged to experiment with different communication strategies that improve inherent beliefs based on social norms. This study found that women are less optimistic than men, exhibit higher levels of risk aversion, and higher cognitive-processing than men when considering technology purchases. The greatest challenge in stimulating the adoption of high-technology products is the perceived risk that a consumer undergoes when making a purchasing decision. Increasing levels of consumer resistance are also attributed to the sheer volume of new information in the digital era and managers thus need to employ simplifying strategies in order to help break through the messaging clutter and alleviate the information overload that the consumer is experiencing. Managers need to find a balance between being seen as innovative market leaders, and successfully introducing the technology at a pace that invites consumer adoption and acceptance. This study provides strong empirical support for managers attempting to successfully target technology products to men and women. By uncovering gender differences in the way that one reacts to technology, one is better able to understand the consumer and marketing efforts are strengthened. This study not only sheds some light on consumer attitudes, feelings and reactions to new technologies, but it also provides important insight into how men and women accept technology in the market. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Marketing Management / MCom / Unrestricted

Background: The increasing supply chain complexity has made verification of sustainable practices a challenging objective to achieve. Blockchain has been discussed as a potential solution to improve several aspects of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM), as traceability and proof of origin for products are increasingly demanded by consumers. This emerging technology was initially developed as a secure distributed ledger for the cryptocurrency sector but has since been implemented in various industries from food to healthcare and logistics. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to analyze how blockchain technology can facilitate more transparent sustainable supply chain practices. Two research questions are answered regarding the current barriers and main benefits in the consumer product sector. Method: This thesis takes a qualitative approach to investigate how blockchain can generate more transparent supply chains from a social and environmental perspective. As a multi-case study, triangulation is achieved by analyzing blockchain’s potential to improve transparency and traceability from different viewpoints. Interviews were conducted with consumer product companies to understand current sustainability challenges and with blockchain experts to gain further insight into blockchain’s potential to solve these issues. By gathering data from various perspectives, this thesis takes an exploratory approach combined with a qualitative approach in accordance with the constructional position. Conclusion: This thesis contributes to the current state of blockchain awareness by identifying and distinctively naming the practical challenges. Companies can gain an increased understanding of blockchain and its current challenges in SSCM, regardless of their industry. By knowing which practical challenges blockchain can solve, their willingness to implement the technology can be heightened. The current barriers are presented to emphasize that the knowledge about blockchain needs to be improved before widespread adoption of blockchain is possible. Four practical challenges for consumer product companies were identified: trustworthy information, geographical distance, supply chain complexity, and tracking.

After setting the Paris Agreement in 2015, larger companies have increasingly more an essential role in evaluating their environmental impact, understand how large their emissions are and setting their climate targets. Companies can follow different environmental reporting tools such as GRI reporting, CDSB Framework, among others. When calculating the level of emissions, companies are following GHG Protocols corporate standard in understanding their direct and indirect emissions, consisting of Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. Scope 1 emissions refer to direct emissions from the company's own or controlled resources. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy. Scope 3 emissions are those indirect emissions that happen in the value chain of the company in both upstream and downstream activities. This thesis was conducted to screen Fiskars Group's Scope 3 emissions the first time and suggest some improvements to reduce them. Fiskars Group is the oldest Finnish based company producing consumer goods used in the home, in the kitchen and interior decoration and different outdoor activities. Products associated with Fiskars Group are their orange handled scissors, Alvar Aalto Glass vases, pots, and pans, among others. The GHG Protocol's Scope 3 emissions framework consists of 15 different categories of which certain categories were included and some categories that were not applicable were excluded. The focus in this study was to calculate the CO2-eq emissions the different categories produces, thus excluded other GHG emissions. The studied categories included Fiskars Group's purchased goods & services, transportation, business travel, employee commuting, upstream leased assets, among others. Within the purchased goods, the main materials of the company were studied in more depth concerning their environmental impact and recyclability. Different emission factors were used in the calculations based on online search. The results showed that the purchased goods and services and upstream transportation caused the most significant missions. The results are mainly caused by having generous use of steel, aluminum, and plastics in the purchased goods & services category. Upstream transportation and distribution include emissions from air, sea, road and parcel transportation. Purpose of this study was to understand how much the indirect Scope 3 emissions contribute to the overall emissions of Fiskars Group; the screening could be enhanced in the future. The company might consider implementing Science-Based Targets, which is a method for larger companies to set their emissions reductions targets. / Efter att Parisavtalet hade fastställts 2015 har större företag fått en allt mer väsentlig roll i att utvärdera deras miljöpåverkan, förstå betydelsen av deras utsläpp och sätta upp klimatmål. Företag kan följa olika typer av miljörapporteringsverktyg, så som GRI-rapportering och CDSB ramverk, bland andra. När beräkningar för utsläppsnivån görs på företag, följer de GHG-protokollens företagsstandard för att förstå sina direkta och indirekta utsläpp, vilka är indelade i scope 1, 2 och 3-utsläpp. Scope 1-utsläpp avser direkta utsläpp från företagets egna eller kontrollerade resurser. Scope 2-utsläpp är indirekta utsläpp som produceras genom inköp av energi. Scope 3-utsläpp är de indirekta utsläpp som förekommer i företagets värdekedja i både uppströms- och nedströmsaktiviteter. Denna avhandling genomfördes för att screena Fiskars Groups Scope 3-utsläpp första gång och föreslå några förbättringar för att minska dessa. Fiskars Group är det äldsta finländska företaget som producerar konsumentvaror som används i hemmet, i köket och i både inredning och olika utomhusaktiviteter. Produkter som ofta associeras med företaget är deras saxar med det ikoniskt orangea handtaget, Alvar Aalto glasvaser, krukor och kokkärl, bland andra.GHG-protokollets ramverk för utsläpp från Scope 3 består av 15 olika kategorier, av vilka vissa kategorier av vilka vissa kategorier ingick och vissa kategorier som inte var tillämpliga utesluts. Fokus ligger i denna studie på att beräkna koldioxidutsläppen som de olika kategorierna producerar, och studien utesluter därmed beräkning av andra typer av utsläpp. De studerade kategorierna inkluderade bland annat Fiskars Groups köpta varor och tjänster, transport, affärsresor, pendling av anställda och hyrda tillgångar. Inom de inköpta varorna studerades huvudmaterialet i företaget mer ingående vad gäller deras miljöpåverkan och återvinningsbarhet. Olika utsläppsfaktorer användes i beräkningarna, som baseras på online sökningar. Resultaten visade att de köpta varorna och tjänsterna, upphandlad uppströms och nedströms transpororsakade de mest stecken utsläppen. Detta resultat orsakas främst av att man använder en stor mängd stål, aluminium och plast i kategorin köpta varor och tjänster. Uppströms transport och distribution inkluderar utsläpp från luft, sjö, väg och pakettransport. Eftersom syftet med denna studie var att förstå Scope 3-utsläppen på en högre nivå, kunde förutsättningarna för framtida screening förbättras. Företaget kan överväga att implementera Science-Based Targets, som är en metod för större företag att sätta upp sina utsläppsminskningsmål.

Due to the increased popularity of greener products (green implies being more sustainable) and more businesses involved in greener markets, the phenomenon of greenwashing has expanded. This is problematic because actors trying to design, manufacture and sell products with a high sustainability content are then forced to compete with actors that deal with artificial sustainability. When trying to market products with a high sustainability index, customers require strong arguments regarding how sustainability has been dealt with within the design process. These need to be grounded in reality and be transparent. One identified research gap is the limited knowledge on how to design and manufacture consumer products in an environmentally and climate friendly way and at the same time attract consumers. The purpose of the study is to problematize sustainable design and consumption and develop a model for a sustainability integrated design process.  First, a literature review was conducted to gain a theoretical overview of the concepts mentioned earlier but also to build a theoretical point of reference. To further explore the concepts, an empirical case study was conducted using Verk, a Swedish furniture company as a case company in order to deepen and complement the gathered theory. The results of the literature study and the case study were then compiled into four identified sustainability factors that affect the creation of novel artefacts which were then sorted through Cross’s (2008) four stage design process model consisting of exploration, generation, evaluation and communication. These four stages were then integrated into a two layered sustainable design process in order to draw conclusions on how a sustainability integrated design process can be modelled.  The developed model was named “2-4 sustainable design process model” because of the two decision processes in each of the four stages of the design process. The model was validated by using the model in a design process where a table was designed. The table corresponds well with the four sustainability factors which shows that the sustainability factors successfully can be integrated within a design process and deliver a product with a high sustainability value. The implications of conducting this type of research is to show how a scientifically derived sustainable design process can be modelled and executed. The method contribution of this study is of scientific interest within design science, due to the scarcity of sustainable design process models with a rigid sustainability dimension. There is also a practical contribution when the developed model gives guidance for industrial designers on how to design in a way that seamlessly deals with sustainability in all the stages of the design process. Further there is a probability that the developed model also can be used in design teaching on how to design in a sustainable way, due to its prescriptive logic.

Servitization has long since proven its benefits for manufacturing companies and is expected to gain future importance due to its sustainable and competitive significance. Yet, research has insufficiently addressed the effect of consumer goods companies integrating services in their portfolio to meet customer demands and justify new pricing models in B2C markets. This research focuses on the consumer perception of services from different levels of complexity to provide managerial implications on how SMEs are advised to react to the Servitization trend in Sweden. A conceptualization of services according to the service scale by Mastrogiacomo et al. (2020) provides the framework for obtaining cross-sectional consumer data on the perception of servitization levels using a customer survey in the Swedish market for the durable consumer goods start-up Sjöstrand. Findings show that the key factors for the perception of services are demographics and the customer’s relation to the brand. The analyzed factors of age, customer relationship, and previous topic-related knowledge about servitization show that higher degrees of customer loyalty prove essential for implementing long-term service strategies like leasing or individualized service plans without transfer of ownership. Services that provide customers with additional knowledge and communication on an individual level demonstrate simple ways to provide high value in use and sustainability. Growing demands for personalization, customer co-creation, and the self-repair trend require companies to identify strategies to increase value-in-use. Furthermore, many services may require an assessment for deservitization as their value proposition can misalign with managerial expectations. / Tjänstefiering har sedan länge visat sig vara fördelaktigt för tillverkningsföretag och förväntas få ökad betydelse i framtiden på grund av dess hållbara och konkurrenskraftiga signifikans. Tidigare forskning har dock inte i tillräcklig utsträckning undersökt effekten för konsumentvaruföretag som integrerar tjänster i sin portfölj för att uppfylla kundernas krav och motivera nya prismodeller på B2C-marknaderna. Denna forskning fokuserar på konsumenternas uppfattning av tjänster från olika komplexitetsnivåer, för att vidare ge ledningsmässiga implikationer om hur små och medelstora företag bör reagera på tjänstefieringtrenden inom konsumentvarusegmentet i Sverige. En konceptualisering av tjänster enligt tjänsteskalan av Mastrogiacomo et al. (2020) utgör ramen för att få tvärsnittsdata från konsumenter om uppfattningen av tjänstefieringsnivåer. Detta framtogs med hjälp av en kundundersökning på den svenska marknaden för varaktiga konsumtionsvaror start-up Sjöstrand. Resultatet visar att de viktigaste faktorerna för uppfattningen av service är demografi och kundens relation till varumärket. Vidare analyseras att faktorer som ålder, kundrelation och tidigare ämnesrelaterad kunskap om tjänstefiering främjar kundlojalitet som är avgörande för att genomföra långsiktiga servicestrategier såsom leasing eller individualiserade serviceplaner utan överföring av äganderätten. Tjänster som bidrar med mer kunskap och kommunikation på individuell nivå visar enkelt ett högt värde i användning och hållbarhet för kunderna. Ökade krav på personalisering, medskapande och trenden med självreparationer kräver att företagen i allt högre grad identifierar strategier för att öka värdet i användningen. Många tjänster kan dessutom kräva en bedömning för ‘Deservitization’ (minskning av tjänsterna) eftersom deras värdeerbjudande kan missanpassas till ledningens förväntningar.

Esse trabalho mostra através de gráficos, tabelas, exemplos e análises, que a origem do fenômeno do aquecimento global (uso intensivo de energia) e o déficit social global é o incentivo para a demanda de produto e serviços que, de fato, não são necessários para uma vida digna e satisfatória da humanidade (consumismo). É obsen/ado que os benefícios desses produtos e serviços vão para uma parte mais privilegiada da população mundial, aumentando cada vez mais o abismo que separa a população mais favorecida da grande maioria das pessoas pobres e que, muitas vezes, não fazem uso de o mínimo necessário par prover sua subsistência. Esse trabalho tem a intenção de estimular o debate com vista a uma nova sociedade e para mostrar que um novo e simples estilo de vida deve ser considerado para resolver o problema do aquecimento global, as diferenças sociais e os sérios problemas de exaustão de recursos naturais da Terra. / This work shows by means of graphs, tables, examples and analyses, that the origin of the phenomenon of the global warming (intensive energy use), and the global social deficit, is the incentive for the demand of products and services that, in fact, are not necessary to a dignity and worthy life of the humanity (consumerism). It is observed that the benefits for these products and services, go to a lowermost part of the world-wide population, widening each time more the abyss that separates the supplied populations of the great majority of the poor persons and that, in not rare times, do not make use of the minimum for the proper survival. In this direction, this work has the intention to stimulate a debate aiming a new society and to show that a new and a simple life style has to be consider to solve the global warming problem and the social inequalities and moreover, the serious problem of the exhaustion of the earth natural resource.

Nenhuma / A aplicação de cosméticos é um recurso importante para a manutenção da saúde da pele e, conseqüentemente, de sua beleza. É de conhecimento que os efeitos dos raios ultravioletas são danosos à saúde da pele podendo resultar em aumento da incidência de câncer, envelhecimento precoce e outras mudanças cutâneas indesejáveis. Os efeitos dos raios infravermelhos são bem menos relatados, mas sabe-se que esses raios podem aumentar os danos na da pele induzidos pelos raios ultravioletas e provocar alterações em nível molecular além da sensação de queimadura na pele. Sob esse aspecto há uma maior necessidade em se formular protetores solares que possam oferecer tanto proteção para os raios ultravioletas quanto para os raios infravermelhos. Os filtros solares são pesquisados e desenvolvidos há bastante tempo e atualmente são criados com os recursos da nanociência e da nanotecnologia, como dióxido de titânio, importante ativo cosmético usado como filtro de radiações ultravioletas. Entretanto, para a proteção de radiação infravermelha pouco se tem pesquisado. Neste trabalho nitreto de boro (BN) nanoestruturado foi preparado empregando três rotas de síntese distintas. A primeira síntese inicia com a formação de um precursor preparado a partir do ácido bórico e melanina, seguido de um recozimento em temperaturas apropriadas para a formação do BN com estrutura hexagonal. A segunda rota utiliza a sílica mesoporosa SBA-15, de elevada ordem estrutural, como direcionador de rede. O BN foi sintetizado dentro dos canais do SBA-15. A terceira síntese utiliza um catalisador à base de ferro para a formação do BN nanoestruturado. Os materiais obtidos foram caracterizados por difração de raios-X, infravermelho, adsorção de gases, espectroscopia de energia dispersiva, microscopia eletrônica de Varredura e microscopia eletrônica de Transmissão. Os resultados revelaram um material nanoestruturado, sendo todos obtidos na fase hexagonal, com tamanhos de partículas variando entre 5 a 15 nm. Foi feito um estudo comparativo dos materiais com um agente ativo comercial, TiO2, empregado para proteção de radiação UV. Como o nitreto de boro apresenta absorção no infravermelho, uma formulação contendo partículas de dióxido de titânio junto com nitreto de boro seria uma combinação perfeita para ser aplicado como cosmético para proteção contra radiações solares em amplo espectro. / Regular use of appropriate cosmetics is an important resource for the maintenance of the skin health and, consequently, its beauty. The effect of ultraviolet rays is harmful to the health of the skin and can result in increase of the cancer incidence, aging and other undesirable cutaneous changes. The effects of the infra-red rays are less described in the scientific literature, but it knows that these rays can increase the damages on the skin induced by ultraviolet rays, provoking alterations in molecular level, beyond the sensation of burning in the skin. Considering this aspect there is a great necessity in creating formulations of solar protectors which can offer protection for the ultraviolet rays as well as the infra-red rays. The solar filters are researched at long time and currently they have been developed using knowledge of nanoscience and nanotechnology, as titanium dioxide, important cosmetic used as filter of ultraviolet radiations. However, for the protection of infra red radiation little has been researched. In this work boron nitride (BN) nanostructured was prepared using three distinct routes of synthesis. The first synthesis initiates with the precursor formation, prepared from boric acid and melanine, followed of annealing in appropriate temperatures for the formation of the BN with hexagonal structure. The second route the nanoporous silica SBA-15, with high structural order, as template of network. The BN was synthesized inside of the canals of the SBA-15. The third synthesis uses iron as catalyst for the formation of the nanostructured BN. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infra-red spectroscopy, N2 adsorption, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and transmission electronic microscopy. The results showed a nanostructured material, all those with hexagonal phase, and particle sizes between 5 and 15 nm. It was made a comparative study of these materials with commercial active agent, TiO2, used for protection of radiation UV. As boron nitride presents absorption in the infra-red ray, we think that a special formulation contend titanium dioxide particles with nanostructured boron nitride would be a perfect combination to be applied as cosmetic for protection against solar radiations in broad specter.