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Understanding the Value Perceptions of Stakeholders of the Chainless DGTL-Drive from a SCOT perspective
Kamphuis, Robin (2025) Understanding the Value Perceptions of Stakeholders of the Chainless DGTL-Drive from a SCOT perspective.
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| Abstract: | To date, bicycles rely on traditional chain drive systems, which restricts bicycle design and use opportunities. Van Raam, a company that designs, produces and distributes special bikes for various target groups, developed a chainless drive technology, called chainless DGTL-drive. This technology promises many advantages over traditional chain drives in terms of user friendliness and design opportunties. However, is there a market? What do various target groups think of this new technology? The purpose of this research is to examine these questions, building on a Social Construction Of Technology (SCOT) perspective to show the relationship between several types of stakeholders and their opinions on this novel drivetrain innovation. The participated stakeholders in this study have been divided into their respective social groups to enable a structured and objective approach towards their value perceptions of the product. These groups consist of users, producers, advocates and others and have been identified based on Lee Humphreys’ view on the original Pinch and Bijker SCOT theory. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with several stakeholders, and the transcriptions have been coded into themes to investigate what, according to these stakeholders, are the most valuable contributions and the largest risks of the chainless DGTL-drive now and in the future. This research explicates the most common and most remarkable results of these interviews and translates the individual responses to constructed group opinions. These value perceptions of social groups of stakeholders are the building blocks for advice on the strategic direction of the future of the Chainless DGTL-Drive to the management of Van Raam. In short, the interviewees were enthusiastic about the innovative drivetrain and acknowledged its potential, but most were able to identify some fears or downsides as well. Nevertheless, the more some of these stakeholders image the technology in use, the more enthusiastic they become, but they fear that all these possibilities come at a price. Making sure stakeholders experience the differences between the status quo and all that this drivetrain has to offer, while emphasising the benefits of the reduction in components, and therefore keeping maintenance costs low, will be crucial to the product's success. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Clients: | Van Raam, Varsseveld, Nederland |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 70 social sciences in general, 85 business administration, organizational science |
| Programme: | International Business Administration BSc (50952) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/106853 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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