Determinants of user innovator behaviour in the silver market

Research output: Journal contributionsJournal articlesResearchpeer-review

Authors

The existing research on the behaviour of user innovators has focused almost exclusively on younger users. In light of the demographic shift and the increasing importance of the "Silver Market" segment (customers 55 years plus), we analysed whether important determinants of user innovator behaviour (use experience, product knowledge, technical expertise, and the lead user components) exert the same influence among older users. We conducted a study in the camping and caravanning industry and included 333 respondents from 19 to 86 years of age. The innovator share among older users was slightly lower (43% versus 57%). While use experience and product knowledge turned out less important for older users in our sample, technical expertise materialised as the most important determinant. Additionally, being ahead of trend is stronger related to dissatisfaction with existing products among older users. We found additional evidence that users with high use experience suffer from functional fixedness.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1440014
JournalInternational Journal of Innovation Management
Volume18
Issue number6
ISSN1363-9196
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20.11.2014
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2041 Imperial College Press.

    Research areas

  • Age, Determinants, Lead user, Product knowledge, Silver market, Technical expertise, Use experience, User innovation
  • Management studies