Better together: involving consumers in the ideation, creation and dissemination of transformative value

Abstract

Purpose

Consumers play a central role in the creation of transformative value, enhancing the well-being of people and the planet. With this article, the authors synthesize service and communication scholars' views to conceptually discuss opportunities and challenges on how to involve consumers in the ideation, creation and dissemination of transformative value. In doing so, the authors identify avenues for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

This research relies on a review of service and communication literature, connecting their insights to real world examples.

Findings

Consumers are involved in the ideation, creation and dissemination of transformative value by engaging in customer innovation, customer participation and customer dissemination behaviors. In relation to these types of customer involvement, four overarching research themes emerge in the context of transformative services: (1) the voice of the non-customer, (2) protecting vulnerable customers, (3) consumer literacy and (4) WOM as a double-edged sword.

Originality/value

This research contributes to transformative service research by assessing the opportunities and challenges related to customers' involvement in the ideation, creation and dissemination of transformative value. Additionally, it identifies avenues for the future at the intersection of communication and service research.