When Artificial Feedback Hurts — Empirical Evidence from Community-Based Configuration Systems

Mass Customization technologies are increasingly becoming social and allow for inter-individual exchange processes such as community-based configuration systems online. But while companies foster community interactions and open their configuration systems, it is not clear (1.) how virtual interactions influence individuals\u27 subjective product satisfaction, since their final decision may not be based on their own exclusive preferences, and (2.) how these usually anonymous feedback processes may directly affect individuals\u27 perception of their own selves. We applied an experimental research design in a virtual community environment and provide evidence that anonymous feedback significantly influences consumers’ decision behavior and that increased deviations from an initial decision negatively affects individual product satisfaction. Moreover, we revealed new theoretical and practical insight that feedback effects can directly and negatively influence individuals\u27 perception of self-worth and that common affirmation strategies may backfire and finally result in considerably lower self-esteem and satisfaction

COMPUTER-GENERATED CARS YOU HAVE TO LOVE: HOW IMAGE MORPHING AND WARPING HELP DESIGNERS TO OPTIMIZE THEIR DESIGN SKETCHES

Although product design is considered as a core determinant of a product\u27s market success, systematic approaches that allow managers to increase a product\u27s visual attractiveness are not available. The present research addresses this gap by adapting an approach that was originally developed in research on human facial attractiveness to a product design context. In particular, we propose that image morphing and warping techniques can be used to identify and manipulate those design features that drive a product\u27s perceived attractiveness. Moreover, we also develop a computer-assisted interface that allows consumers to individually determine their optimal car design. Three studies with real consumers focusing on the automotive market confirm the viability and the usefulness of our approach. From a managerial perspective, the approach may increase the effectiveness of design efforts and may help in integrating consumers\u27 preferences in an early stage of the product design process

Green IS Design and Energy Conservation: An Empirical Investigation of Social Normative Feedback

A combination of information systems and socio-psychological concepts holds the potential to exert a positive influence on the energy consumption of individuals. In a field study among 9,929 users, we investigate whether descriptive and injunctive normative feedback lead to significant effects on energy demand if delivered by a website have the same effects as when delivered via personal interaction as in Schultz et al.’s (2007) study, and whether both feedback types have different effects on repeated voluntary system usage. We found a similar pattern with respect to energy consumption as did Schultz et al. (2007) based on personal interaction, and no difference with respect to frequency of system usage. The findings are important for the design of information systems that utilize feedback concepts to induce a sustainable energy usage among households. Ultimately, the results support utility companies and policy makers to cost-effectively meet regulatory saving targets

Auf den Rangplatz kommt es an - Wirkung der Rangfolge von Produkten auf das Entscheidungsverhalten

Zusammenfassung: Häufig präsentieren Anbieter ihren Nachfragern die zur Auswahl stehenden Produkte in Listen. Beispiele hierfür bilden Online-Shops (z.B. für Nahrungsmittel, Elektroartikel oder Kleider), die ihre Erzeugnisse zumeist unter Berücksichtigung der vom Kunden gewünschten Auswahlkriterien in einer Rangfolge darbieten. Auch Auktionsportale, Suchmaschinen sowie Wohnungs-, Partner- oder Pkw-Börsen zeigen die für den Kunden als relevant erachteten Erzeugnisse bzw. Treffer in einer Liste. Aus theoretischen Ansätzen, die vor allem aus der deskriptiven Entscheidungstheorie stammen, lässt sich die Vermutung ableiten, dass der Rangplatz eines Produkts in einer Liste einen Effekt auf die Präferenz des Kunden für dieses Gut ausübt. Im Rahmen einer empirischen Studie im Markt für gebrauchte Fahrzeuge kann dieser Zusammenhang bestätigt werden. Bestimmte Rangplätze sind unabhängig von der Beschaffenheit der an diesen Stellen präsentierten Erzeugnisse bei den Individuen beliebter als andere. Für Hersteller und Händler (etwa Online-Shops) liefert die Studie Hinweise über den Zusammenhang zwischen der Art und Weise der Gestaltung von Listen (z.B. geordnet nach einem Kriterium oder randomisiert) und der Neigung von Individuen, sich für das erste, das mittlere etc. Produkt zu entscheiden. Wissenschaftler erlangen ein tieferes Verständnis über individuelles Verhalten bei der Wahl eines Produkts aus einer Liste und der dieses Verhalten determinierenden Faktore

It is all in the mix: The interactive effect of music tempo and mode on in-store sales

Though practitioners have relied on tempo as a criterion to design in-store music, scant attention has been devoted to the mode of musical selections, and no consideration has been given to the potential for the interactive effects of low-level structural elements of music on actual retail sales. The current research reports a field experiment wherein the positive main effect of slow tempo on actual sales reported by Milliman (J Marketing 46 (3):86-91, 1982, J Cons Res 13 (2):286-289, 1986) is qualified by musical mode. A significant interaction between tempo and mode was evidenced, such that music in a major mode did not vary in effectiveness by tempo while music in a minor mode was significantly more effective when accompanied by a slow tempo. That is, the Milliman effect was eliminated for music in a major mode. Implications of our findings and directions for further research are discusse

The influence of stimulus ambiguity on category and attitude formation

Existing research on categorical ambiguity has mostly examined how consumers assimilate new products into familiar product categories. Extending these findings, this research investigates whether and under what circumstances consumers either create new mental categories for hybrid products or integrate them into existing categories. Specifically, we propose that this effect is influenced by the degree of product ambiguity and the availability of a new category label. We find that as ambiguity increases, the probability of new category creation augments, but product evaluation deteriorates. However, we also find that a new category label can reduce the effects of ambiguity and can improve product evaluation. Thus, the results fill the existing gap in research on the cognitive integration of hybrid products and shed light on how managers may position these products successfull

ERAWATCH Country Reports 2009:Germany. Analysis of policy mixes to foster R&D investment and to contribute to the ERA.

The main objective of the ERAWATCH Policy Mix Country reports 2009 is to characterise and assess in a structured manner the evolution of the national policy mixes in the perspective of the Lisbon goals, with a particular focus on the national R&D investments targets and on the realisation and better governance of the European Research Area. The reports were produced for all EU Member State and five Associated States to support the mutual learning process and the monitoring of Member and Associated States' efforts by DG-RTD in the context of the Lisbon Strategy and the European Research Area. The country reports 2009 build and extend on the analysis provided by analytical country reports 2008 and on a synthesis of information from the ERAWATCH Research Inventory and other important available information sources.JRC.J.3-Knowledge for Growt

The Pervasive Effect of Aesthetics on Choice: Evidence From a Field Study

Do people think logically and carefully before buying an expensive item, or are more superficial forces such as product appearance at work? To investigate this question, six months of car sales were predicted using objective measures of a design's typicality and complexity. The data revealed that cars conforming closely to a morph of designs of all cars outsell cars conforming less closely to the morph, but only when the design is visually complex. These design factors explain 42% of the sales variance and are independent of retail price, brand associations, technological specifications, and advertising. Subjective measures controlling for brand recognition further confirm the considerable impact of design factors on real purchases involving large financial commitments

Enantioselective α-Hydroxylation of 2-Arylacetic Acid Derivatives and Buspirone Catalyzed by Engineered Cytochrome P450 BM-3

Here we report that an engineered microbial cytochrome P450 BM-3 (CYP102A subfamily) efficiently catalyzes the α-hydroxylation of phenylacetic acid esters. This P450 BM-3 variant also produces the authentic human metabolite of buspirone, R-6-hydroxybuspirone, with 99.5% ee

Individuality of a group: detailed walking ability analysis of broiler flocks using optical flow approach

Impaired walking ability is one of the most important factors affecting broiler welfare. Routine monitoring of walking ability provides insights in the welfare status of a flock and assists farmers in taking remedial measures at an early stage. Several computer vision techniques have been developed for automated assessment of walking ability, providing an objective and biosecure alternative to the currently more subjective and time-consuming manual assessment of walking ability. However, these techniques mainly focus on assessment of averages at flock level using pixel movement. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential of optical flow algorithms to identify flock activity, distribution and walking ability in a commercial setting on levels close to individual monitoring. We used a combination of chicken segmentation and optical flow methods, where chicken contours were first detected and were then used to identify activity, spatial distribution, and gait score distribution (i.e. walking ability) of the flock via optical flow. This is a step towards focusing more on individual chickens in an image and its pixel representation. In addition, we predicted the gait score distribution of the flock, which is a more detailed assessment of broiler walking ability compared to average gait score of the flock, as slight changes in walking ability are more likely to be detected when using the distribution compared to the average score. We found a strong correlation between predicted and observed gait scores (R2 = 0.97), with separate gait scores all having R2 > 0.85. Thus, the algorithm used in this study is a first step to measure broiler walking ability automatically in a commercial setting on a levels close to individual monitoring. These validation results of the developed automatic monitoring of flock activity, distribution and gait score are promising, but further validation is required (e.g. for chickens at a younger age, with very low and very high gait scores)