How to Consume a Product Service System : Antecedents and Consequences of the practice of Access

Abstract

This study investigated the practice of access that consumers perform to gain temporary use of materials and its implications for Product Service System (PSS) consumption. A PSS is a combination of products and services designed to be resource efficient. The study, which drew on Practice Theory, was a socio-technical experiment where couples of users were encouraged to access infant mobility products via a PSS. Analysis of the data suggests a framework which can be used to explain consumers’ response to PSS. Despite safety concerns, more users selected safety car seats than strollers. In all cases, users and non-users were deterred from accessing the PSS by the extra work required by performing access practices. The results suggest that Practice Theory is useful to explain the difficulties consumers find in accessing PSS’ offerings, which may deter them from adopting them. However, it also highlights limitations in failing to account for the role of the diverse consumers’ profiles in engaging with PSS consumption.