Consumer value is an important determinant of consumers’ post-use behaviour, for example satisfaction, repeat purchase and word of mouth. The existing research mainly looks at the factors associated with the product and service providers to improve consumer value. Few studies on the role of the consumer in shaping consumer value have found consumer knowledge to be an important element in shaping consumer value. Adopting critical realism, this PhD expands this area of knowledge by investigating knowledge miscalibration (i.e., the inaccuracy in subjective knowledge) as a significant antecedent of consumer value. Most of the time, consumers’ perceptions of what they think they know (i.e., subjective knowledge) has been shown to be different from what they actually know (i.e., objective knowledge). Thus, subjective knowledge is usually inaccurate. This inaccuracy in subjective knowledge relative to objective knowledge is called knowledge miscalibration. Although the effect of knowledge miscalibration on consumers’ purchasing decisions has been investigated in the consumer behaviour literature, its role in the use stage of consumption has received much less attention. The aim of this research is to examine the effect of knowledge miscalibration on product or service use, and more specifically on the value consumers derive from actually using products or services (i.e., value-in-use). In this research a critical realism paradigm is pursued, implying that reality exists in the three domains of the empirical, the actual and the real. The research starts with observing regularity in the empirical domain (i.e., consumer value) followed by imagining the causal power in the actual and the real domains (i.e., knowledge miscalibration), shaping the research question. A retroductive strategy is followed, firstly by proposing the effect of knowledge miscalibration on consumer value and secondly by conceptually and empirically testing this relationship. This research conceptualises that knowledge miscalibration influences consumer value dimensions, described as efficiency, excellence, play and aesthetics. It is suggested that underconfidence (i.e., knowledge miscalibration where subjective knowledge is deflated) and overconfidence (i.e., knowledge miscalibration where subjective knowledge is inflated) influence consumer value dimensions differently as they generate different consequences in use. Therefore, a conceptual model is developed that describes the effect of knowledge miscalibration (i.e., overconfidence and underconfidence) on the dimensions of consumer value. The empirical part of the research is designed by conducting a covariance-based study and an experimental investigation in order to gain both internal and external validity. The covariance-based investigation is conducted in the context of amazon.com online shopping. Knowledge miscalibration and consumer value dimensions are measured in this study. This study supports the negative effect of underconfidence on efficiency, excellence, play and aesthetics and the negative effect of overconfidence on play. The experimental investigation is designed in the context of prezi.com, an online dynamic presentation creation website that enables its users to move between slides, words and images during their presentations. In this study, overconfidence and underconfidence are manipulated and their effects on the dimensions of consumer value are examined. The findings of this study show that underconfidence negatively influences efficiency, excellence and aesthetics, while overconfidence negatively impacts excellence, play and aesthetics. Overall, this PhD concludes that knowledge miscalibration negatively influences the dimensions of consumer value, with the exception of overconfidence impacting efficiency. The contradictory results of the covariance-based study observed in the experimental study can be explained through its inability to account for reciprocal relationships (i.e., where consumer value dimensions also impact knowledge miscalibration) and the existence of a third variable affecting both independent and dependent variables. Furthermore, the context of the experimental study (employing a new consumption task) is proposed to be the main reason for the lack of support for the effect of underconfidence on play.

Diploma thesis is formed as an expert opinion and the goal of this opinion is to find value in use of the company OSRAM Česká republika s. r. o., to the date 1. 10. 2014. The aim of the valuation is to estimate the Value in Use of the company while using the methods of DCF Equity and Branch Multipliers. The parts of the thesis are strategic and financial analysis, opertional asset allocation, value drivers and the estimated financial plan.

I den digitala eran kan konsumenter ställa högre krav på service och kvalité från företag, då konkurrenter även finns online. De lojala kunderna blir allt viktigare, speciellt 2020 då denna studie utförs, eftersom coronapandemin försätter många företag i problematik. Studien syftar till att undersöka hur konsumenter värderar företags sociala medier samt servicelogik, och hur det i längden kan påverka kundlojaliteten. En kvantitativ ansats valdes i form av en webbenkät, som distribuerades via mejl och sociala medier. Resultatet, baserat på 276 respondenter, visar att servicelogik har en effekt på kundlojalitet. Däremot kunde företags sociala medieanvändning inte påvisa ett signifikant samband till kundlojalitet. De båda variablerna som testades mot kundlojalitet ställdes även mot varandra för att se hur sambandet såg ut dem emellan, servicelogik och företags sociala medienärvaro visade dock inget signifikant samband.

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2016-06-01T12:48:08Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Vanessa Carvalho Miranda Tavares.pdf: 1765596 bytes, checksum: abab583ea55e2ddfb9a5994f670ea013 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-01T12:48:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vanessa Carvalho Miranda Tavares.pdf: 1765596 bytes, checksum: abab583ea55e2ddfb9a5994f670ea013 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-28 / The value cocreation suggests organizations take their focus from product and service giving customer space. Currently, there is a change in behavior and attitude of customers who come from a passive position to a connected and informed manner, requiring an adaptation of organizations to this new attitude of customers. Organizations of several areas aim to provide unique experiences to their customers and thereby achieve a more effective relationship with stakeholders resulting in mutual benefits. With the growing positioning of the sports industry and the adequacy of physical activity practices to the modern world, the gyms market is growing, turning an interesting object of study. The aim was to analyze how the practices of existing experience and relationships in the value cocreation approaches and theory of stakeholders were present in gyms and how they impact the management of these organizations. The methodology applied was the multiple cases study in the gyms, for data collection, we used sources of evidence for the triangulation of data as proposed by Yin (2010): observation, document analysis and scripts for semi-structured interviews. The results showed that teachers are important stakeholders for the development of the relationship and providers of memorable experiences to the other stakeholders. It is concluded that the gyms practice the value cocreation partially with their stakeholders and unconsciously because they have no knowledge of theory to practice. / A cocriação de valor propõe as organizações que tirem o seu foco do produto e serviço dando espaço ao cliente. Atualmente, nota-se uma mudança no comportamento e atitude dos clientes, que passam de uma postura passiva para uma maneira conectada e informada, exigindo uma adaptação das organizações a essa nova postura dos clientes. Organizações de diversas áreas de atuação buscam proporcionar aos clientes experiências únicas e com isso obter um relacionamento mais eficaz com os stakeholders resultando em benefícios mútuos. Com o posicionamento crescente da indústria esportiva e a adequação das práticas de atividades físicas ao mundo moderno, o mercado de academias de ginástica é crescente, destacando-se como um objeto de estudo interessante. O objetivo foi analisar como as práticas da experiência e do relacionamento existentes nas abordagens da cocriação de valor e na teoria dos stakeholders se fizeram presentes nas academias de ginástica e como impactam na gestão dessas organizações. Como metodologia aplicou-se o estudo de casos múltiplos nas academias de ginástica, para a coleta dos dados, utilizou-se fontes de evidências para a triangulação de dados como proposto por Yin (2010): Observação, análise de documentos e roteiros de entrevistas semi-estruturada. Os resultados mostraram que os professores são stakeholders importantes para o desenvolvimento do relacionamento e para proporcionar experiências memoráveis aos demais stakeholders. Conclui-se que as academias de ginástica estudada praticam a cocriação de valor parcialmente com seus interessados envolvidos e de maneira inconsciente, pois não possuem conhecimento da teoria para a prática.

I en konkurrenskraftig marknad som konsultbranschen är det viktigt att konsultföretagen lever i ständig utveckling och ligger i framkant gällande ny kunskap. Detta eftersom företaget som erbjuder mest kompetens och kvalité till minst kostnad är det företag som anlitas till uppdragen som erbjuds (Kaario, et al. 2003). Ett kunskapsområde som intresserar företagen är värdebaserad försäljning, vilket som forskningsområde är ett relativt outforskat ämne att sälja en lösning istället för att sälja en produkt blir en mer komplex process för företaget (Terho, H. et al. 2012). Kunden behöver nämligen förstå hur företagets lösning kommer vara användbart och värdeskapande för deras organisation (Kaario, et al. 2003). I det här uppdraget för Semcon undersöks möjligheter och utmaningar med att utveckla deras verksamhet genom att öka försäljningen av arbetspaket i sin organisation. För att kunna skapa ett sådant erbjudande till kund krävs en grundlig förförståelse för kundens nyckelverksamhet, när lösningen behöver vara helt anpassad efter kundens företag för att vara av värde (Töytäri, P. et al. 2011). Denna rapport behandlar och redogör kring Semcons arbetspaket, en kartläggning av behoven och hindren hos kund. Innovationsbidraget ligger i att koppla ihop den tekniska världen med den akademiska med ett ganska outforskat område. Rapporten ämnar bidra till Semcons innovationsprocess mot lösnings-baserad försäljning, genom att komma med kunskap utifrån kundens perspektiv. Forskningsfrågorna denna rapport kommer att besvara är: vilka utmaningar ser Semcons befintliga koncept arbetspaket? Vad är värdeskapande hos företagen som Semcon står i kontakt med? Hur kan Semcons arbetspaket utvecklas på bästa sett utifrån denna information?

Consumer value is an important determinant of consumers’ post-use behaviour, for example satisfaction, repeat purchase and word of mouth. The existing research mainly looks at the factors associated with the product and service providers to improve consumer value. Few studies on the role of the consumer in shaping consumer value have found consumer knowledge to be an important element in shaping consumer value. Adopting critical realism, this PhD expands this area of knowledge by investigating knowledge miscalibration (i.e., the inaccuracy in subjective knowledge) as a significant antecedent of consumer value. Most of the time, consumers’ perceptions of what they think they know (i.e., subjective knowledge) has been shown to be different from what they actually know (i.e., objective knowledge). Thus, subjective knowledge is usually inaccurate. This inaccuracy in subjective knowledge relative to objective knowledge is called knowledge miscalibration. Although the effect of knowledge miscalibration on consumers’ purchasing decisions has been investigated in the consumer behaviour literature, its role in the use stage of consumption has received much less attention. The aim of this research is to examine the effect of knowledge miscalibration on product or service use, and more specifically on the value consumers derive from actually using products or services (i.e., value-in-use). In this research a critical realism paradigm is pursued, implying that reality exists in the three domains of the empirical, the actual and the real. The research starts with observing regularity in the empirical domain (i.e., consumer value) followed by imagining the causal power in the actual and the real domains (i.e., knowledge miscalibration), shaping the research question. A retroductive strategy is followed, firstly by proposing the effect of knowledge miscalibration on consumer value and secondly by conceptually and empirically testing this relationship. This research conceptualises that knowledge miscalibration influences consumer value dimensions, described as efficiency, excellence, play and aesthetics. It is suggested that underconfidence (i.e., knowledge miscalibration where subjective knowledge is deflated) and overconfidence (i.e., knowledge miscalibration where subjective knowledge is inflated) influence consumer value dimensions differently as they generate different consequences in use. Therefore, a conceptual model is developed that describes the effect of knowledge miscalibration (i.e., overconfidence and underconfidence) on the dimensions of consumer value. The empirical part of the research is designed by conducting a covariance-based study and an experimental investigation in order to gain both internal and external validity. The covariance-based investigation is conducted in the context of amazon.com online shopping. Knowledge miscalibration and consumer value dimensions are measured in this study. This study supports the negative effect of underconfidence on efficiency, excellence, play and aesthetics and the negative effect of overconfidence on play. The experimental investigation is designed in the context of prezi.com, an online dynamic presentation creation website that enables its users to move between slides, words and images during their presentations. In this study, overconfidence and underconfidence are manipulated and their effects on the dimensions of consumer value are examined. The findings of this study show that underconfidence negatively influences efficiency, excellence and aesthetics, while overconfidence negatively impacts excellence, play and aesthetics. Overall, this PhD concludes that knowledge miscalibration negatively influences the dimensions of consumer value, with the exception of overconfidence impacting efficiency. The contradictory results of the covariance-based study observed in the experimental study can be explained through its inability to account for reciprocal relationships (i.e., where consumer value dimensions also impact knowledge miscalibration) and the existence of a third variable affecting both independent and dependent variables. Furthermore, the context of the experimental study (employing a new consumption task) is proposed to be the main reason for the lack of support for the effect of underconfidence on play.

<p>This thesis examines customer value by studying the iPhone through its users from a Service- Dominant logic perspective. We distinguish three parts of the theory: the process of value- creation; the role of the firm; and customer involvement in shaping the offering. By conducting interviews with students in Uppsala, Sweden, we recognize three findings. First, while value is mainly created through the use of an offering the start and end of the value creating process is difficult to distinguish. Second, by interacting with the customer during the use of an offering the firm can affect the value the customer experiences. Third, by customizing an offering more value can be created, and if the customer participates in the process it is more like to succeed.</p>

This thesis examines customer value by studying the iPhone through its users from a Service- Dominant logic perspective. We distinguish three parts of the theory: the process of value- creation; the role of the firm; and customer involvement in shaping the offering. By conducting interviews with students in Uppsala, Sweden, we recognize three findings. First, while value is mainly created through the use of an offering the start and end of the value creating process is difficult to distinguish. Second, by interacting with the customer during the use of an offering the firm can affect the value the customer experiences. Third, by customizing an offering more value can be created, and if the customer participates in the process it is more like to succeed.

How can suppliers contribute to their customers’ value creating processes? Although this question is crucial for firms’ collaboration with customers and for their competitiveness, it is not clear how firms co-create value with their customers. Research on value co-creation has increased notably the last years. However few empirical studies have been conducted on how value is co-created in the day-to-day activities. Therefore this thesis addresses value co-creation with a strategy-as-practice perspective. The strategy-as-practice enables to link micro-level activities with the structures in which they are carried out as well as the strategic outcomes they lead to. In order to understand the process of value co-creation, a supplier and four customer companies are studied. The empirical context is a technical knowledge-intensive business service company providing its competence in product development and operating in a highly competitive environment. Focus is put on how the supplier’s processes fulfil customers’ requirements and expectations. The notion of value-in-use from the service logic forms a starting point in the analysis of customer’s requirements. Dynamic capabilities in the strategy field is used to analyse the supplier’s processes. Based on interviews, annual reports, observations and workshops, the empirical material indicates that the supplier’s processes play a crucial role for the customer. The findings in this thesis show that value-in-use is a contextual and compound concept that can take different forms as “values-in-use”, “postpone value” and “value-after-use". Understanding customers’ value-in-use requires an open dialogue between the customer and the supplier. In this sense, processes that help capture the more intangible and unconscious parts of a relationship, and the roles the parties take during the process are necessary. A finding in this thesis is that culture enhances certain processes at the expense of others. Another finding is that dynamic capabilities need to be more than well-performed processes in order for the customer to differentiate the firm from competitors. Dynamic capabilities necessitate the combination of smooth processes, understanding of customers’ value-in-use as well as managerial skills in order for the supplier to co-create value, and this in a competitive way.

Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att få en djupare förståelse för produktplaceringsprocessen och därmed se vad produktplacering som marknadsföringskanal genererar till en film- och/eller tv-produktion. Utgångspunkten för att besvara syftet är värdeskapandeteorier tillsammans med en kvalitativ undersökning via intervjuer med sex personer inom produktplaceringsbranschen. Resultatet från undersökningen visade på att fördelarna med produktplacering är att den ger konsumenten en plattform att se en produkt eller ett varumärke i ett verklighetstroget sammanhang och därmed görs produktionen mer trovärdig. I ett större perspektiv genererar produktplacering mer än bara trovärdighet, den erbjuder ett nätverk med samarbetspartners, liksom ett värdeskapande genom kringliggande plattformar. / The purpose of this paper is to gain a deeper understanding of the product placement process and to see what a marketing channel such as product placement generates to a film and/or a television production. The starting point for answering the purpose of this paper is the value creation theories together with a qualitative survey through interviews with six people in the product placement industry. The results from the survey showed that the benefits of product placement are the contribution of a platform for consumers to see a product or a brand in a realistic context and thereby making a production more reliable. In a larger perspective, product placement generates more than just credibility, it offers a network of partners, as well as value creation through surrounding platforms.