Involvement of the consumer in the product development processes: a qualitative study of consumer goods companies

Abstract

Over the last decade a discussion has arisen in marketing literature about value co-production, which highlights the involvement of consumers in product development processes (PDP), a concept associated with the interaction and inclusion of consumers in value creation processes. This is a content analysis study, carried out with Brazilian consumer goods companies in order to investigate the involvement of consumers in PDP. Despite the fact that these companies are innovative and successful with their new products the involvement of consumers in the PDP occurs with varied degrees of intensity and starting from the quite different mechanisms. The results characterize the involvement mechanisms, stages of the PDP in which the involvement occurs and the intensity levels of such consumer involvement. Finally, the managerial and academic applications of the study are presented, followed by its limitations and recommendations for future studies.