Key research issues in user interaction with user toolkits in a mass customisation system. (1st January 2003)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Franke, Nikolaus; Piller, Frank T.
• Is Part Of: International journal of technology management. Volume 26:Number 5/6(2003)
• Page Start: 578
• Page End: 599
• Publication Date: 2003-01-01
• Subjects: mass customisation -- personalisation -- configuration -- user innovation -- customer integration -- toolkits -- user co-design; Technology -- Management -- Periodicals; 658.4062
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0267-5730

Abstract

The idea of integrating users into the design and production process is a promising strategy for companies being forced to react to the growing individualisation of demand. Whilst there is a huge amount of managerial literature on mass customisation, empirical findings are scarce. Our literature review shows that specifically the core of a mass customisation system, the toolkit and the users' interaction with it, has hardly been researched. The objective of this paper is to set a research agenda in the field of user interaction with toolkits for mass customisation. From the literature and 15 exploratory expert interviews with leading pioneering companies we deploy four key research issues in this evolving field.