258-266 (2011)
ABSTRACT
According to the literature, the two key factors that govern consumers’ adoption of innovative
products are perceived product attributes and consumer traits. An IT product, iPad, is
considered in a case study of how consumer innovativeness and new product attributes affect
consumers’ intentions to adopt. The investigation also discusses the effect of consumer
innovativeness on the relationship between new product attributes and adoption intentions.
Consumer innovativeness and perceived new product attributes are found to influence the
adoption of new products, and consumer innovativeness is found moderately to affect the
relationships between perceived new production attributes and consumers’ adoption intentions.
time of adoption of the aforementioned changes in a review of related literature reveals that businesses and
functional relationship. Previous research on consumers have completely different perceptions of
innovations has revealed that innovative consumers new products, and that the definition of new products
usually provide other consumers information and varies among disciplines. A product that is new to
suggestions regarding new products and their opinions consumers may not be new to businesses, and vice
are typically accepted by, and influence, other versa.
consumers. To consumers, any product that they have never
Midgley and Dowling [14] regard the definition seen is a new product. According to Guiltinan [4],
made by Rogers and Shoemaker [16] as only an new products can be classified into three groups,
operationalized definition. Steenkamp et al. [20] claim based on the demand outcomes that are sought by
that consumer innovativeness is the predisposition to consumers. They are (1) trial and repurchase, (2)
buy new and different products and brands rather than customer migration, and (3) innovation adoption and
to remain with previous choices and consumption diffusion. The market-oriented view measures the
patterns. degree to which a new product is accessible to
As mentioned earlier, the failure rate of diffusing consumers. Schiffman and Kanuk [18] proposed two
new products is relatively high, and the cost of failure market-oriented definitions of new products. One is
is considerable to the organization. To minimize the based on market penetration: a product whose
risk of diffusion failure, marketers must address the potential consumers represent a certain ratio of all
needs of innovative consumers - the most important consumers in the market can be regarded as a new
target group in the diffusion process. The use of new product. The other is based on the release time of the
products by these consumers in public motivates other product: a product that remains effective for
consumers to seek and buy the same products [6]. consumers for a short period can be regarded as a new
Therefore, these consumers, also called consumer product. (Based on the above definition, iPad is
innovators, are crucial to the success of the diffusion regarded as a new product herein.
of new products. Previous research on the adoption of In the new product adoption model that was
innovation has two main focuses. One is the effects of developed by Holak [8], perceived product attributes,
demographic variables on the adoption of new consumer traits, and environmental variables all affect
products. Researchers with this focus have intention to purchase, in turn affecting actual purchase
empirically verified that consumer innovators are and adoption. Holak [8] argues that consumers must
demographically different from other consumers. The take into account product attributes and their own
other focus is the use of innate consumer traits in evaluating a new product, because innovative
innovativeness to identify consumer innovators. characteristics and the acceptability of an innovation
Innate consumer innovativeness is not concerned with all relate to the product attributes, and continuous
a particular product. Rather, it is an individual’s adoption of an innovation is largely related to
generalized unobservable predisposition toward consumer traits.
innovations and is applicable across product classes Based on Holak’s [8] framework, this
[10]. Therefore, this investigation argues that by investigation examines two factors that affect
identifying consumers with high levels of consumers’ adoption of new products - consumer
innovativeness, businesses can more accurately traits and product attributes. Among the various
predict the acceptability of their new products and consumer traits, this study focuses on consumer
also save time and cost in marketing. innovativeness, and investigates its effects on
Individual predisposition is important to a intention to adopt, and considers whether this trait can
consumer’s adoption of innovations. This argument reinforce the effect of the perceived attributes of a
has been mentioned in studies of brand loyalty, new product on consumers’ intentions to adopt.
decision, preference, and communication [5].
Consumer innovativeness is commonly utilized in 2.3 Perceived Attributes of New Products
psychological studies to verify an individual’s The fundamental characteristic of innovation is a
innovativeness [10]. It reflects an innovative set of unique product attributes that can result in
personality, predisposition, and cognitive style [11]. consumer adoption. Some products are rapidly
diffused and widely adopted by consumers as soon as
2.2 Adoption of New Products they hit the market, but some are not. Product
Kolter [12] stated that new products include attributes affect this phenomenon. This investigation
original products, product improvements, product will explore product attributes that affect consumers’
modifications, and new brands that a business purchases and intentions to adoption and identify key
develops through its own research and development attributes of the iPad. According to Rogers [17], all
efforts. New products can also be “products that are to innovations should not be considered to be equally
be introduced into the market or are perceived by important. Innovative characteristics, especially those
consumers as newer than existing products” [1]. A perceived by adopters, can increase the acceptability
260 International Journal of Electronic Business Management, Vol. 9, No. 3 (2011)
of a new product. Rogers thus proposed five discussion about a certain innovation also reflects the
perceived attributes of new product - relative importance of the observability of innovations. Some
advantage, compatibility, complexity, trial ability, and innovative consumption goods, such as early personal
observability. computers, suffered from slow diffusion partly
Relative advantage is the degree to which an because of low observability.
innovation is perceived to be better than the product
that it is replacing. It does not refer to the objective 3. METHODOLOGY
advantage of a new product but to the adopter’s
subjective perception of advantage. Relative 3.1 Research Framework
advantage can be measured in terms of economic Holak [8] stated that consumers take into account
factors, such as social status, convenience, economic both product attributes and their own traits in the
gains, and low cost. An innovation that offers a evaluation of a new product, and argued that purchase
greater advantage is believed to have greater intentions are largely governed by “perceived product
acceptability, higher diffusion speed. Past research attributes” and “consumer traits”. Product attributes
into perceived attributes of innovations has suggested are one of the two key factors that affect consumers’
that relative advantage is positively related to adoption of new products [8]. Basically, the
acceptability, and so is one of the most effective acceptability of innovations can be explained using
factors for predicting acceptability. the five perceived attributes of innovations that were
Compatibility is the degree to which an proposed by Rogers [17].
innovation is perceived to be compatible with the Based primarily on Holak's [8] research, this
consumer’s existing value system, experience, and study examines the two factors that affect consumers’
needs. Consumers are more likely to adopt a new intention to adopt new products. These two factors are
product earlier if the product is more compatible with consumer traits and product attributes. In addition to
their existing values and needs, and they do not need demographic variables, consumer innovativeness is
to change anything to use the product. For potential considered, and its influence on consumers’ intentions
adopters, higher product compatibility also means less to adopt new products is studied. Further, this
uncertainty and a smaller gap between product investigation studies whether consumer
attributes and consumer needs. An innovation’s innovativeness moderates the relationship between
compatibility is positively related to its acceptability. perceived attributes of new products and intention to
Complexity is the degree to which an adopt. Figure 1 presents the research framework.
innovation appears difficult to understand and use,
and is a subjective perception. Some new products are H1
Consumer
easy to understand for most people in society, but innovativeness
others appear very complex and take longer to diffuse.
A less complex innovation can be diffused more H3
rapidly. An innovation that requires adopters to learn Perceived H2 Adoption
attributes of new Intention for
new skills or increase their comprehension is not products new products
likely to be rapidly accepted. Therefore, adoption of
the innovation may be delayed. Figure 1: Research framework
Trialability is the degree to which an innovation
can be experimented with on a limited basis. 3.2 Hypotheses
Innovations that can be examined and tried in Manning et al. [13] noted that highly innovative
different stages are typically more rapidly adopted consumers tend to make decisions to adopt
than those that cannot. In marketing, trialability innovations independently, have a high interest in
means availability for free trial and provides novelty, and have a strong desire to seek out new
experience of the product. The iPad is available for product information. According to Hoffmann and
trial and experience at Apple Stores. Hence, Soyez [6], innovative consumers use special media to
trialability is one of the variables that are studied in seek information and commonly focus on specific
this investigation. product categories. They aspire to understand the
Observability is the degree to which results of technical information concerning new products. They
innovating are visible to others. More visible results are also more likely to become opinion leaders and
of innovating correspond to greater acceptability. early adopters of new products because they wish to
Observability of innovations can raise questions and be the person from whom their peers seek information
induce discussion about the innovations among peers, about new products to maintain their social role.
including adopters’ friends and colleagues. Easier Accordingly, this paper proposes the following
recognition or verbalization of the benefits or hypothesis.
functions of a new product correspond to faster
diffusion of the information. Users’ gathering for
C. H. Ho and H. Y. Tsai: Role of Innovativeness of Consumer in Relationship 261
H1: Consumer innovativeness positively affects the can learn about the product by physically using it.
intention to adopt new products. Accordingly, the following hypothesis is proposed.
Holak and Lehmann [7] noted that the degree to H2d: The trialability of a new product positively
which a new product is perceived to be superior to its affects consumers’ intentions to adopt it.
predecessors can be a measure of product benefits.
Additionally, reward, price, and quality of innovations According to Rogers [17], observability is the
are all important factors that consumers consider in degree to which the results of innovation are visible to
the adoption of innovations. Taylor and Todd [21] others. Greater visibility is associated with greater
studied the effects of innovative characteristics on acceptability. The observability of innovations can
consumers’ adoption of innovation. Their findings raise questions and induce discussion about the
suggest that consumers are more likely to adopt a new innovations among peers, including adopters’ friends
product that has a greater perceived relative advantage and colleagues. Easier recognition and verbalization
than its predecessors. Therefore, this paper proposes of the benefits or functions of a new product
the following hypothesis. corresponds to faster diffusion of that information.
Users’ discussions about) an innovation manifests the
H2a: The relative advantage of a new product importance of the observability of innovations.
positively affects consumers’ intentions to adopt Accordingly, the following hypothesis is made.
that new product.
H2e: The observability of a new product positively
The various causes of substantial delays in affects consumers’ intentions to adopt it.
consumers’ adoption of new products indicate imply
that social risks and financial risks may all Robertson [15] mentioned that most adopters of
substantially delay consumers’ decisions to adopt the innovations have a risk-seeking personality trait.
adoption of innovations [3]. Holak [7] found that According to Boone [2], innovation adopters are
research into innovativeness and purchase intention highly receptive to new things and enjoy seeking and
revealed that new products are better accepted by leading change. The findings of Venkatraman and
consumers if they are compatible with those Price [22] demonstrate that cognitive innovators tend
consumers’ habits of use of similar products, their to have a greater demand for cognitive stimulation,
cultural background and values. Based on the above enjoy text messages more, buy more impulsively,
discussion, the hypothesis is made. make decisions more quickly, and try new products
before most people. Therefore, this study proposes the
H2b: The compatibility of a new product positively following hypotheses.
affects consumers’ intentions to adopt that
product. H3a: Consumer innovativeness moderates the
relationship between relative advantage and
Rogers [17] stated that complexity is the degree adoption intention for new products.
to which an innovation is difficult to understand and H3b: Consumer innovativeness moderates the
use. Some new products can be easily understood by relationship between compatibility and adoption
most people in society, whereas others cannot. A more intention for new products.
easily understood new product can be diffused more H3c: Consumer innovativeness moderates the
rapidly. If an innovation requires adopters to learn relationship between complexity and adoption
new skills or increase their comprehension, its intention for new products.
diffusion may take longer and its adoption may be H3d: Consumer innovativeness moderates the
delayed. Therefore, the following hypothesis is relationship between trialability and adoption
inferred. intention for new products.
H3e: Consumer innovativeness moderates the
H2c: The complexity of a new product negatively relationship between observability and adoption
affects consumers’ intentions to adopt it. intention for new products.
Trialability is the degree to which an innovation 3.3 Variable Definition and Measurement
can be experimented with on a limited basis [17]. Based on the scales for (measuring OR the
Innovations that can be experimented with and tried in measurement of) innovativeness that were introduced
stages can generally be more rapidly accepted by by Hurt et al. [9], this study used 20 items to measure
consumers than those that cannot. The trialability of the adoption of innovations. The Cronbach’s α for the
innovations can reduce the uncertainty in items was 0.92. Relative advantage measures the
decision-making by potential adopters, because they performance of a new product relative to that of
similar products on the market. According to a survey
262 International Journal of Electronic Business Management, Vol. 9, No. 3 (2011)
that was performed by DIGITIMES Research in 2011, the respondents had a college (41.1%) or graduate
price is the first factor that consumers consider in the (56.9%) education and listed student (48.6%) as their
purchase of a Tablet PC, followed by battery life, current occupation.
panel size, weight, and availability of applications. Consumer innovativeness involves three
Based on these factors, seven items were specified. constructs - adoption of new methods, tendency to try
Compatibility is the degree to which an new products, and creativity. The reliability analysis
innovation is perceived to be compatible with the suggested that the Cronbach’s α for the three
consumer’s existing value system, experience, and constructs were 0.780, 0.785, and 0.753 respectively.
needs. Three designated items were related to this The scale for measuring consumer innovativeness that
variable, and they had a Cronbach’s α of 0.79. was developed by Wortzel [23] was highly reliable.
Complexity is the degree to which an innovation is Table 1 presents the means, standard deviations and
difficult to understand and use. It was associated with correlations of the variable.
four items, whose reliability coefficient was 0.85. Excluding responses that indicated a bias against
Trialability is the degree to which an innovation can Apple products, this study treated respondents’
be experimented with on a limited basis. This variable experience of using Apple products and their product
was measured in terms of four items. Observability is preferences as two control variables. Multiple
the degree to which the results of an innovation are regression analysis was conducted on the use of
visible to others. This variable was also measured in hierarchical, and Table 2 presents the results of the
terms of four items. Adoption intention refers to statistical analysis. The following analyses were
consumers’ intention to adopt new products. Four carried out; multiple regressions with intention to
items, with a Cronbach’s α of 0.87, were used to adopt new products as the dependent variable, and
measure this variable. All of the items were measured two control variables, three groups of consumer
on a five-point Likert scale. innovativeness and five perceptions as independent
variables; a multiplicative term consumer
4. RESULTS innovativeness and each of the five perceptions was
adopted. The models were introduced into the
A total of 288 questionnaire responses were regression equation after the rest of the independent
returned. Thirty-three responses were invalid (from variables. The change in R2 was significant at p<.05.
consumers who already owned an iPad or who gave A significant coefficient of the multiplicative term
incomplete answers), and so 255 valid responses were was interpreted as suggesting interaction effects. The
obtained. The valid sample comprised 45.9% male results indicate that H1, H2c, H3a, H3b, H3c and H3d
and 54.4% female respondents, mainly in the age were supported.
groups of 19~25 (63.1%) and 26~35 (26.7%). Most of
5. DISCUSSION AND high level of creativity. This finding suggests that our
common understanding that consumers who like to try
CONCLUSION new products and who are more creative adopt new
products sooner is not entirely correct or universal.
5.1 Discussion Among the five attributes of new products,
The results in this study only partially support complexity significantly and negatively affect
the conclusions of Rogers [17] and Midgley and adoption intentions, whereas the other attributes were
Dowling [14] - that consumer innovativeness is positively but insignificantly related to adoption
significantly and positively related to intention to intention. This finding is consistent with the results of
adopt new products. Two plausible explanations are as Holak and Lehmann [7] and Rogers [17]. Restated,
follows. (1) The scale for measuring innovation consumers are more likely to adopt a new product that
adoption that was used by Hurt et al. [9] was designed they perceive to have greater relative advantages,
to measure intentions to adopt new concepts and new compatibility, trialability, and observability, and lower
products. Although the scale that was used herein was complexity. The difficulty of using a new product was
based on this scale, the items were meant to measure the main factor considered in its purchase or adoption.
specifically intentions to adopt new products. (2) The Among consumers who were relatively more
relationship between consumer innovativeness as one willing to adopt new methods, the relative advantages
construct and adoption intention for new products was of a new product were not the most important factor
insignificant. Therefore, this study further broke down that they considered. Rather, trialability of the product
consumer innovativeness into three constructs - was key determinants of their buying decisions. The
adoption of new methods, tendency to try new results herein demonstrate that the trialability of new
products, and creativity. These two causes probably products can reduce consumers’ insecurity about the
explain why the findings in this study were not all new products and thereby increase their intentions to
consistent with the results in earlier research. adopt them. Trialability can reinforce intentions to
The results also revealed that consumers who adopt among those who like to try new products.
were willing to try new methods had significantly Although this group of consumers likes to use new
stronger intentions to adopt new products than those methods or instruments to perform tasks, they are
who enjoyed trying new products and those who had a more willing to adopt a new product that is available
264 International Journal of Electronic Business Management, Vol. 9, No. 3 (2011)
消費者創新性對新產品的認知屬性和採用意圖之影響
何政勳 1*、吳文傑 2
1
國立臺北大學資訊管理研究所
新北市三峽區大學路 151 號
2
聖約翰科技大學企業管理系
新北市淡水區淡金路四段 499 號
摘要
在高度競爭的時代,新產品開發是企業尋求生機的方式之一,而新產品開發往往伴隨著
高成本及高風險。所以,提升消費者對新產品採用,便成為企業的重要議題。先前研究
指出,認知新產品屬性及消費者特性是影響消費者採用新產品的兩大關鍵變數,故本研
究以認知新產品屬性及新產品採用模型為理論基礎,探討消費者創新性、認知新產品屬
性對消費者採用意圖的影響,同時也探討消費者創新性在認知新產品屬性及新產品採用
意圖間關係的角色。研究結果顯示,消費者創新性會正向影響新產品的採用意圖;而新
產品屬性中的相對優勢、複雜性及可試驗性也會影響消費者對創新產品的採用意願。此
外,本研究以消費者創新性將消費者分群,期可協助企業了解消費者特性,以發展出合
適的行銷策略,促進消費者採用新產品。
關鍵詞:消費者創新性、新產品屬性、採用意圖
(*聯絡人:jeffher@mail.ntpu.edu.tw)