Project on Influences on the Consumer

Description
A consumer is a person or group of people who are the final users of products and or services generated within a social system. A consumer may be a person or group, such as a household. The concept of a consumer may vary significantly by context, although a common definition is an individual who buys products or services for personal use and not for manufacture or resale.

Diffusion and Adoption

Defining Diffusion
? Diffusion is defined as the process by which the

acceptance of an innovation (a new product / service / idea / practice) is spread by communication (mass media, salespeople or WoM) to members of a social system (target market) over a period of time

Diffusion process - Basic elements
(B) Channels of Commn

(A) Innovation

(C) Social System

(D)
Time

(A) Innovation - Definitions
1) Firm – oriented definitions 2) Product – oriented definitions 3) Market - oriented definitions

4) Consumer - oriented definitions

1) Firm – oriented definitions
? Treats the newness of the product from the

perspective of the company producing or marketing it
? When the product is new to the company it is

considered new in general
? This approach ignores whether or not the product is

new to the marketplace (to consumers or competitors)

2) Product – oriented definitions
? ?

Focus on the inherent features of the products Focus on the effects of these features on the consumer buying patterns

?

Sometimes considers the extent to which the innovation is likely to disrupt the established behavior patterns
Types:
? ? ?

?

Continuous innovation Dynamically continuous innovation Discontinuous innovation

Product – oriented definitions contd…
? Continuous Innovation
? Has the least disruptive influence on established

patterns
? Involves introduction of a modified product rather than

a totally new product
? E.g: Software upgrades vis-à-vis totally new software

Product – oriented definitions contd…
? Dynamically Continuous Innovation
? Has a slightly more disruptive influence on established

patterns but DOES NOT alter existing patterns
? Involves creation of a new or a modified product ? E.g. External Hard drives, disposable diapers etc

Product – oriented definitions contd…
? Discontinuous Innovation
? Requires consumers to adopt new behavior patterns ? E.g. Internet, Mobile phones, online payments

3) Market– oriented definitions
? A product is considered new if:
? It has been purchased by a relatively small (fixed ) % of

the potential market
? It has been on the market for a relatively short

(specified) amount of time

4) Consumer– oriented definitions
? A new product is any product that a potential

consumer judges to be new
? Thus, ‘newness’ is based on the consumers’ perception

of the product rather than product features or market realities

Product Characteristics influencing Diffusion
Characteristics
Relative Advantage
Compatibility Complexity* Trialability Observability

Definition
The degree to which potential customers perceive a new product as superior to existing substitutes The degree to which potential customers feel a new product is consistent with their present needs, values and practices The degree to which a new product is difficult to understand or use The degree to which a new product is capable of being tried on a limited basis The degree to which a product ‘s benefits or attributes can be observed, imagined or described to potential customers

*Complexity
? Barriers to new product acceptance (especially for

high-tech consumer products)
? Fear of technical complexity ? Fear of rapid obsolescence

? Fear of social rejection
? Fear of physical harm

Diffusion process - Basic elements
(B) Channels of Commn

(A) Innovation

(C) Social System

(D)
Time

(B)Channels of Communication
? Relative influence of:
? Word-of-mouth (between consumers) ? Impersonal sources (advertising and editorial matter) ? Interpersonal sources (salespeople and informal opinion

leaders)

Diffusion process - Basic elements
(B) Channels of Commn

(A) Innovation

(C) Social System

(D)
Time

(C)The Social System
? The social system is a physical, cultural or social

environment to which people belong and within which they function
? Market segment / Target market are more relevant in

our context

Characteristics of a Social System
? A positive attitude towards change ?An advanced technology and skilled labor force ? A general respect for education and science ? Emphasis on ordered social relationships rather than emotional ones ? An outreach perspective facilitating the entrance of new ideas into the system ? A system in which members can see themselves in different roles

Diffusion process - Basic elements
(B) Channels of Commn

(A) Innovation

(C) Social System

(D)
Time

(D) Time
1) The amount of purchase time
2) Identification of adopter categories 3) Rate of adoption

1) Purchase time
Initial Customer Awareness Purchase Decision / Rejection

purchase time

2) Adopter Categories
? Classification scheme that indicates where a consumer

stands in relation to others in terms of time or when the consumer adopts a new product

2) Adopter Categories
Category Description
Venturesome – very eager to try new ideas; acceptable if risk is daring; more cosmopolite social relationships; communicate with other innovators Respect – more integrated into the local social system; the persons to check with before adopting the new idea; contains greatest number of opinion leaders

Relative %

1) Innovators

2.5%

2) Early Adopters

13.5%

2) Adopter Categories
Category Description
Deliberate – adopt new ideas just prior to the average time; seldom hold leadership positions; deliberate for some time before adopting Skeptical – adopt new ideas just after the average time; adopting may be both an economic necessity and a reaction to peer pressures; innovations approached cautiously

Relative %

3)Early Majority

34%

4) Late Majority

34%

2) Adopter Categories
Category Description
Traditional – the last people to adopt an innovation; most “localite” in outlook; oriented to the past; suspicious of the new

Relative %

5)Laggards

16%

% of Adopters - Category Sequence
Early Adopters 34% Early Majority 34% Late Majority

13.5%
2.5%

16%

Innovators

Laggards

3) Rate of Adoption
? It is the time taken for a new product or service to be

adopted by members of a social system i.e. how quickly it takes a new product to be accepted by those who will ultimately adopt it
? Depends on marketing of policy of the firm: ? Penetration policy ? Skimming

3) Rate of Adoption
? Penetration Policy ? Low introductory price to penetrate the market ? Rapid product adoption demonstrates to intermediaries that the product is worthy of their full and continued support ? Skimming Policy ? High introductory price to skim the market ? Stepwise reduction in prices to attract newer markets ? This is done to control the adoption rate and recover developmental costs

Diffusion process - Basic elements
(B) Channels of Commn

(A) Innovation

(C) Social System

(D)
Time

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Definition
? The stages through which an individual consumer

passes while arriving at a decision to try or not to try to continue using or discontinue using a new product

Stages in the Adoption Process
Stage Remarks
Consumer is first exposed to the product innovation Consumer is interested in the product and seeks additional information Consumer decides whether or not to believe that this product will satisfy a need – “mental trial” Consumer uses the product on a limited basis If trial is favorable – consumer decides to use the product on a full basis If trial is unfavorable – Consumer rejects it

1. Awareness
2. Interest 3. Evaluation 4. Trial 5. Adoption / Rejection

Enhanced Adoption Process Model
Adoption OR Rejection

Need

Awareness ?Interest ? Evaluation ?Trial

Adoption / Rejection

Postadoption or postpurchase evaluation

Evaluation

Dis continuation
Discontinuation OR Rejection

Rejection

Adoption and Info Sources
? The adoption process provides a framework for

determining which types of information sources consumers find most important at specific decision stages

Relative importance of Info Sources
High Personal and interpersonal sources

Importance Impersonal mass media sources

Low
Awareness

Evaluation

Adoption

Interest

Trial



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