DSR Knowledge LibraryReusable design knowledge and grounded research support
HomeLibraryChatChat accessGive feedback ↗

DSR Knowledge Library

Research prototype · Native Open Knowledge Format

LibraryChatChat accessMethod and limitationsPrivacy noteEvaluation survey ↗
Library/Papers/From ambivalence to trust: Using blockchain in customer loyalty programs

Research paper

From ambivalence to trust: Using blockchain in customer loyalty programs

To reduce customer ambivalence toward green electricity tariffs, the paper develops a blockchain-based loyalty program refined over four iterations, structured around six design objectives (authenticity, customizability, transparency, efficiency, usability and affordability) with associated design requirements.

PaperOpen source resource ↗
OverviewDSR gridDesign knowledgePaper design mapPublication metadata

01

Overview

Publication metadata and narrative from the current library record.

Authors
Manuel Utz, Simon Johanning, Tamara Roth, Thomas Bruckner, Jens Strueker
Year
2023
Venue
International Journal of Information Management 68 (2023) 102496
Methodology
Design science research; four iterations; workshop and 18 ex-ante expert interviews.
ambivalence-trust-loyaltyblockchaincustomer-loyaltydesign-science-researchenergygreen-electricitytrust

From ambivalence to trust: Using blockchain in customer loyalty programs

Authors: Manuel Utz, Simon Johanning, Tamara Roth, Thomas Bruckner, Jens Strueker
Venue: International Journal of Information Management 68 (2023) 102496
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102496 (opens in a new tab)

Summary

To reduce customer ambivalence toward green electricity tariffs, the paper develops a blockchain-based loyalty program refined over four iterations, structured around six design objectives (authenticity, customizability, transparency, efficiency, usability and affordability) with associated design requirements.

Artifact

A blockchain-based customer loyalty program for green electricity tariffs.

Methodology

Design science research; four iterations; workshop and 18 ex-ante expert interviews.

Citations

[1] Manuel Utz, Simon Johanning, Tamara Roth, Thomas Bruckner, Jens Strueker. From ambivalence to trust: Using blockchain in customer loyalty programs. International Journal of Information Management 68 (2023) 102496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102496 (opens in a new tab) [2] Source document: From ambivalence to trust - Using blockchain in customer loyalty programs.pdf

02

DSR grid

Six dimensions represented in the current paper record.

01

Problem description

Customers of green electricity tariffs feel ambivalence - lost trust plus distrust from information asymmetries and unmet 'green' promises - which may lead them to switch suppliers.

02

Input knowledge

Theories of trust, distrust and ambivalence; customer-loyalty literature; kernel-theory-to-artifact relations (Walls et al.); blockchain and IoT.

03

Research process

Design science research refined over four iterations, with a workshop and eighteen ex-ante expert interviews.

04

Key concepts

Ambivalence, blockchain, customer loyalty, design science research, distrust, trust.

05

Solution description

A blockchain-based customer loyalty program for green electricity tariffs using loyalty tokens and local IoT controllers. Solution-space representation: Instantiation (program/prototype) plus design objectives and requirements (nascent design theory).

06

Output knowledge

Six design objectives (authenticity, customizability, transparency, efficiency, usability, affordability) with underlying design requirements.

03

Design knowledge

Directly linked concepts, grouped by their represented design-knowledge category.

Design Objective

Design Objective6
Design Objective
design-knowledge/ambivalence-trust-loyalty-do1

DO1 - Authenticity

Provide loyalty tokens and data from authentic sources - e.g., using local IoT controllers for consumption data and a green/renewable energy index for generation - so customers can trust the sustai...

ambivalence-trust-loyaltycustomer-loyaltydesign-objectiveenergy+2
Design Objective
design-knowledge/ambivalence-trust-loyalty-do2

DO2 - Customizability

Let customers set rules for their smart appliances based on generation and consumption data so that electricity consumption aligns with their sustainability preferences.

ambivalence-trust-loyaltycustomer-loyaltydesign-objectiveenergy+2
Design Objective
design-knowledge/ambivalence-trust-loyalty-do3

DO3 - Transparency

Assess and communicate the sustainability of generation (e.g., via a renewable energy index) so customers can transparently monitor their green electricity.

ambivalence-trust-loyaltycustomer-loyaltydesign-objectiveenergy+2
Design Objective
design-knowledge/ambivalence-trust-loyalty-do4

DO4 - Efficiency

Enable seamless, reliable and scalable information exchange between electricity supplier and customer, minimizing blockchain data processing to retain high uptime and availability.

ambivalence-trust-loyaltycustomer-loyaltydesign-objectiveenergy+2
Design Objective
design-knowledge/ambivalence-trust-loyalty-do5

DO5 - Usability

Provide an intuitive user interface (with a cloud controller for data storage/display) so users need not deal with the technical details of blockchain.

ambivalence-trust-loyaltycustomer-loyaltydesign-objectiveenergy+2
Design Objective
design-knowledge/ambivalence-trust-loyalty-do6

DO6 - Affordability

Keep participation in the blockchain-based loyalty program affordable for customers, keeping additional-service and hardware costs (e.g., low-cost local controllers) reasonable.

ambivalence-trust-loyaltycustomer-loyaltydesign-objectiveenergy+2

04

Paper design map

The default semantic design map canonicalizes stored design relationships; Raw links retains the complete technical Markdown-link view.

Design-knowledge map

6 stored concepts / 0 canonical semantic relationships

Concept types
Design Objectives
Press enter or space to select a node.You can then use the arrow keys to move the node around. Press delete to remove it and escape to cancel.
Press enter or space to select an edge. You can then press delete to remove it or escape to cancel.

05

Publication metadata

Additional metadata represented in the current library record.

Show additional metadata+
{
  "type": "paper",
  "title": "From ambivalence to trust: Using blockchain in customer loyalty programs",
  "description": "To reduce customer ambivalence toward green electricity tariffs, the paper develops a blockchain-based loyalty program refined over four iterations, structured around six design objectives (authenticity, customizability, transparency, efficiency, usability and affordability) with associated design requirements.",
  "resource": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2022.102496",
  "authors": "Manuel Utz, Simon Johanning, Tamara Roth, Thomas Bruckner, Jens Strueker",
  "year": 2023,
  "venue": "International Journal of Information Management 68 (2023) 102496",
  "methodology": "Design science research; four iterations; workshop and 18 ex-ante expert interviews.",
  "dsr_grid": true,
  "dsr_solution_space": "Instantiation (program/prototype) plus design objectives and requirements (nascent design theory).",
  "tags": [
    "ambivalence-trust-loyalty",
    "energy",
    "customer-loyalty",
    "trust",
    "green-electricity",
    "design-science-research",
    "blockchain"
  ]
}