Activating consumers for better service coproduction outcomes through eustress: The interplay of firm-assigned workload, service literacy, and organizational support

Martin Mende, Maura L. Scott, M J Bitner, Amy Ostrom

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

51 Scopus citations

Abstract

Companies are allocating increasing coproduction workloads to consumers. Ironically, many consumers may be ill-equipped to coproduce, as indicated by widespread low service literacy (e.g., financial literacy, medical literacy). This research examines how consumers, particularly those low in service literacy, respond to varying levels of firm-assigned coproduction workload. Five studies, including a hospital field experiment, reveal three findings. First, service literacy plays a moderating role, such that higher (vs. lower) levels of coproduction workload improve service outcomes (e.g., compliance intentions), particularly for consumers with low service literacy. Second, coproduction eustress is a crucial mediator, such that positive service outcomes result from consumers appraising coproduction tasks as positive and meaningful challenges. In turn, eustress is elicited by consumers' belief that they are collaborating with the provider to achieve a shared goal. Third, offering organizational support to consumers might mitigate the beneficial effects of coproduction eustress because it can trigger reactance. This research can help policy makers and managers in finding new ways to activate consumers, particularly those low in service literacy, as coproducers for better service outcomes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)137-155
Number of pages19
JournalJournal of Public Policy and Marketing
Volume36
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2017

Keywords

  • Coproduction
  • Eustress
  • Literacy
  • Organizational support
  • Well-being

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business and International Management
  • Economics and Econometrics
  • Marketing

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