The Library
Remanufacturing and remanufactured products : an empirical study on customers’ perceptions of smartphones in the UK
Tools
Ozden, Mucahit (2021) Remanufacturing and remanufactured products : an empirical study on customers’ perceptions of smartphones in the UK. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
PDF
WRAP_Theses_Ozden_2021.pdf - Submitted Version Embargoed item. Restricted access to Repository staff only until 2 July 2024. Contact author directly, specifying your specific needs. - Requires a PDF viewer. Download (7Mb) |
Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b3821896
Abstract
Background: Sustainability is a global challenge that, due to the seriousness of the issue, is receiving increasing attention from a variety of stakeholders. To achieve sustainability, it is necessary to transform from a traditional economy, i.e. a take–make–dispose mindset, to a circular economy, where the residual value of a product at the end-of-life is recovered through a variety of treatments, such as recycling, reconditioning, remanufacturing, repairing and reusing. This research specifically focuses on remanufacturing owing to its forecasted growth as a sector, its high environmental desirability when compared with other end-of-life treatments and the like-new condition of products after the remanufacturing process. Purpose: The broader objective of the study is to contribute to the sustainability and, more specifically, marketability of remanufactured products. This research investigates remanufacturing and remanufactured products by examining customers’ perceptions. The success of remanufactured products in the market is highly dependent upon customer acceptance. Design/Methodology: A research model was developed based on literature findings and the theory of planned behaviour, and hypotheses were formed. To test the model, primary data was collected from 440 participants via an online questionnaire. Structural equation modelling was adopted to confirm or reject the hypotheses. Constructs included in the model were the environmental friendliness of the participants, the perception of remanufacturing, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and purchase intention. This research also investigated participants’ willingness to pay for remanufactured products. Participants were grouped into different categories based on their demographic information, such as the brand of their current mobile phone, purchase channel, experimental group and previous purchasing behaviour. The statistical significance was tested between the groups using t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. In addition, the questionnaire investigated the words that the respondents associated with remanufacturing and the importance of their potential reasons for not purchasing remanufactured products. Findings: It was found that customers believed that remanufacturing was associated with sustainability. Purchase intention was most influenced by subjective norms, followed by perceptions of remanufacturing, environmental friendliness and perceived behavioural control. In terms of information, generic remanufacturing information positively affected perceptions, and sustainability information positively affected subjective norms. Consumer rights did not have any significant effect on the purchase intention. The participants were convinced to switch from a brand-new to a remanufactured option when given product-related information, and the price they were willing to pay was higher. Originality: This study attempts to test the impact of various pieces of information on the purchase intention and the willingness to pay for a remanufactured smartphone. It also brings a new interpretation to the attitude element of the theory of planned behaviour. In addition, it provides an action plan for increasing the demand for remanufactured products.
Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory H Social Sciences > HF Commerce T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering T Technology > TS Manufactures |
||||
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Remanufacturing, Circular economy, Consumer behavior, Smartphones | ||||
Official Date: | March 2021 | ||||
Dates: |
|
||||
Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
Theses Department: | Warwick Manufacturing Group | ||||
Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Masi, Donato ; Jones, Jeffrey Alun, 1962- | ||||
Format of File: | |||||
Extent: | xix, 225 leaves : illustrations | ||||
Language: | eng |
Request changes or add full text files to a record
Repository staff actions (login required)
View Item |