Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of Mass Customization on Sustainability: A Literature-Based Analysis

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Customization 4.0

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics ((SPBE))

Abstract

Sustainability has become increasingly important to business research and practice. Approaches, which support fundamental changes in behavior to act economic, ecological, and social, are required. A popular concept that contributes to these challenges is mass customization (MC). MC—defined as a competitive strategy—allows for producing goods and services for individual needs of customers. In doing so, it, for example, helps toward an increased product-customer relation, efficient production, and a high degree of personalized goods, which may have positive effects on the society and the environment (e.g., by reducing waste). In order to get an overview of which effects of MC toward sustainability are discussed, our study aims to synthesize prior literature. Therefore, we conduct an extensive literature review in different search engines to ensure a broad view on this topic. As a result, 33 articles that met our research purpose are obtained. These articles are coded by three researchers independently and—a total of 157 codes—are consolidated afterward to determine effects of MC on sustainability. Our classification indicates that mostly social (∼87%) and economic issues are addressed (∼84%), while ecological aspects are underrepresented.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Brundtland, G.H.: World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED, 1987): our Common Future. Oxford University Press, Oxford (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Seidel, S., Recker, J.C., vom Brocke, J.: Sensemaking and sustainable practicing: functional affordances of information systems in green transformations. MIS Q. 37, 1275–1299 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Melville, N.P.: Information systems innovation for environmental sustainability. MIS Q. 34, 1–21 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Brocke, J. vom., Seidel, S., Recker, J.: Green Business Process Management: towards the Sustainable Enterprise. Springer Science & Business Media, Berlin, Heidelberg (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Boër, C.R., Pedrazzoli, P., Bettoni, A., Sorlini, M.: Mass Customization and Sustainability: an Assessment Framework and Industrial Implementation. Springer Science & Business Media, London (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hora, M., Hankammer, S., Canetta, L., Sel, S.K., Gomez, S., Gahrens, S.: Designing business models for sustainable mass customization: a framework proposal. J. Ind. Eng. Manag. 7(4), 143–152 (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Abdelkafi, N., Täuscher, K.: Business models for sustainability from a system dynamics perspective. Organ. Environ. 29, 74–96 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Schoormann, T., Behrens, D., Kolek, E., Knackstedt, R.: Sustainability in business models–a literature-review-based design-science-oriented research agenda. In: Proceedings of the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS), Turkey (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Boynton, A.C., Victor, B., Pine II, B.J.: New competitive strategies: challenges to organizations and information technology. IBM Syst. J. 32, 40–64 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Piller, F.T.: Mass customization: reflections on the state of the concept. Int. J. Flex. Manuf. Syst. 16, 313–334 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Wohlgemuth-Schöller, E.: Modulare Produktsysteme. Lang, Frankfurt (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Pine, B.J., Peppers, D., Rogers, M.: Do You Want to Keep Your Customers Forever? Harvard Business Press, Boston (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  13. vom Brocke, J., Simons, A., Niehaves, B., Riemer, K., Plattfaut, R., Cleven, A.: Reconstructing the giant: on the importance of rigour in documenting the literature search process. In: Proceedings of the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS), pp. 2206–2217, Verona (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Nickerson, R.C., Varshney, U., Muntermann, J.: A method for taxonomy development and its application in information systems. Eur. J. Inf. Syst. EJIS. 22, 336–359 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Malhotra, A., Melville, N.P., Watson, R.T.: Spurring impactful research on information systems for environmental sustainability. MIS Q. 37, 1265–1273 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Isaksson, R., Garvare, R.: Measuring sustainable development using process models. Manag. Audit. J. 18, 649–656 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Pope, J., Annandale, D., Morrison-Saunders, A.: Conceptualising sustainability assessment. Environ. Impact Assess. Rev. 24, 595–616 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Dawe, N.K., Ryan, K.L.: The faulty three-legged-stool model of sustainable development. Conserv. Biol. 17, 1458–1460 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Huber, J.: Nachhaltige Entwicklung Durch Suffizienz, Effizienz Und Konsistenz. Nachhalt. Naturwissenschaftlicher Sozialwissenschaftlicher Perspekt. Eine Publ. Karl-Heinz-Beckurts-Stift, Berlin (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Lüdeke-Freund, F.: Towards a Conceptual Framework of “Business Models for Sustainability”. Social Science Research Network, Rochester (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Schaltegger, S., Freund, F.L., Hansen, E.G.: Business cases for sustainability: the role of business model innovation for corporate sustainability. Int. J. Innov. Sustain. Dev. 6, 95 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Pourabdollahian, G., Steiner, F., Rasmussen, O.H., Hankammer, S.: Impact factors of mass customization on sustainability. In: 6th International Conference on Mass Customization and Personalization in Central Europe (MCP-CE), Novi Sad (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hankammer, S., Wang, N., Guo, J.: Consumption trends in China and Germany in comparison: an empirical cross-cultural study on the role of sustainability and customizability. In: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Mass Customization and Personalization in Central Europe (MCP-CE), Novi Sad (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Pourabdollahian, G., Steiner, F., Rasmussen, O.H., Hankammer, S.: A contribution toward a research agenda: identifying impact factors of mass customization on environmental sustainability. Int. J. Ind. Eng. Manag. 5, 169–178 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kohtala, C.: Addressing sustainability in research on distributed production: an integrated literature review. J. Clean. Prod. 106, 654–668 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Osterwalder, A., Pigneur, Y.: Business Model Generation: a Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers. Wiley, Hoboken, New Jersey (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Pourabdollahian, G., Taisch, M., Piller, F.T.: Is sustainable mass customization an oxymoron? An empirical study to analyze the environmental impacts of a MC business model. In: Proceedings of the 7th World Conference on Mass Customization, Personalization, and co-Creation (MCPC 2014), Aalborg, Denmark, –301, 310, Springer International Publishing, Cham (February 4th - 7th, 2014)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Boell, S.K., Cecez-Kecmanovic, D.: On being “systematic” in literature reviews in IS. J. Inf. Technol. 30, 161–173 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Webster, J., Watson, R.T.: Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: writing a literature review, 2002. MIS Q. 26(2) xiii–xxiii

    Google Scholar 

  30. Bazijanec, B., Gausmann, O., Oetjen, J., Turowski, K.: Impacts of web 2.0 on business models in mass customization. In: Proceedings of the American Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), p. 247 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Heikkila, J., Heikkila, M., et al.: Business modelling agility: turning ideas into business. In: Proceedings of the Bled eConference, Solvenia (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Böhm, M., Weking, J., Fortunat, F., Müller, S., Welpe, I., Krcmar, H.: The business model DNA: towards an approach for predicting business model success. In: Proceedings of the Wirtschaftsinformatik (WI), St. Gallen (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Reichwald, R., Piller, F.T., Moeslein, K., Lohse, C.: Broker models for mass customization based electronic commerce. In: Proceedings of the American Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), p. 143 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Moeslein, K., Piller, F.: From economies of scale towards economies of customer interaction: value creation in mass customization based electronic commerce. In: Proceedings of the BLED, p. 21 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Piller, F., Schubert, P., Koch, M., Moeslein, K.: From mass customization to collaborative customer codesign. In: Proceedings of the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS), p. 118 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Gerards, M., Siems, F., Antons, D., Ihl, C., Piller, F.: Configurator-based product choice in online retail - transferring mass customization thinking to services in retail. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Nath, A.K., Singh, R., Iyer, L.: Web 2.0: capabilities, business value and strategic practice. In: Proceedings of the American Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS), p. 451 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Chowdhury, N.M., Sherer, S.A., Ray, M.R.: Realizing IT value at air products and chemicals, Inc. Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst. 7, 23 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Kruse, P.: Customer Involvement in Organizational Innovation – toward an Integration Concept. In: Proceedings of the American Conference on Information Systems (AMCIS) (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Ives, B., Piccoli, G.: Custom made apparel and individualized service at lands’ end. Commun. Assoc. Inf. Syst. 11, 3 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Habryn, F., von Bischhoffshausen, J.K., Satzger, G.: A business intelligence solution for assessing customer interaction, cross-selling, and customization in a customer intimacy context. In: Proceedings of the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS), p. 206 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Kruse, P.: External knowledge in Organisational innovation-toward an integration concept. In: Proceedings of the European Conference on Information Systems (ECIS), p. 54 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Hildebrand, C., Landwehr, J., Herrmann, A.: When artificial feedback hurts — empirical evidence from community-based configuration systems. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Beverungen, D., Lüttenberg, H., Wolf, V.: Recombinant service system engineering. In: Proceedings of the Wirtschaftsinformatik (WI), St. Gallen (2017)

    Google Scholar 

  45. Fichman, R.G., Dos Santos, B.L., Zheng, Z.E.: Digital innovation as a fundamental and powerful concept in the information systems curriculum. MIS Q. 38, 329–354 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Zainuddin, E., Gonzalez, P.: Configurability, maturity, and value co-creation in SaaS: an exploratory case study. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  47. Thiesse, F., Wirth, M., Kemper, H.-G., Moisa, M., Morar, D., Lasi, H., Piller, F., Buxmann, P., Mortara, L., Ford, S., Minshall, T.: Economic implications of additive manufacturing and the contribution of MIS. Bus. Inf. Syst. Eng. 57, 139 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Akkinen, M.: Conceptual Foundations of Online Communities. Sprouts Content. (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  49. Schlagwein, D., Bjørn-Andersen, N.: Organizational learning with crowdsourcing: the revelatory case of LEGO. J. Assoc. Inf. Syst. 15, 754 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  50. Lee, S., Song, J., Cao, Q.: Environmental uncertainty and firm performance: an empirical study with strategic alignment in the healthcare industry. In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Information Systems (ICIS) (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  51. Eiletz-Kaube, D., Ksela, M.: Living brands requirements for Brands in the Digital Economy Redefined. In: Proceedings of the BLED, p. 29 (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  52. Niinimäki, K., Hassi, L.: Emerging design strategies in sustainable production and consumption of textiles and clothing. J. Clean. Prod. 19(6), 1876–1883 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  53. Shrouf, F., Ordieres, J., Miragliotta, G.: Smart factories in Industry 4.0: A review of the concept and of energy management approached in production based on the Internet of Things paradigm. Presented at the December (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  54. Hansen, E.G., Grosse-Dunker, F., Reichwald, R.: Sustainability innovation cube—a framework to evaluate sustainability-oriented innovations. Int. J. Innov. Manag. 13, 683–713 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Gandhi, A., Magar, C., Roberts, R.: How technology can drive the next wave of mass customization. Bus. Technol. Off. 32, 1–8 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  56. Gembarski, P.C., Lachmayer, R.: Degrees of customization and sales support systems - enablers to sustainability in mass customization. In: Proceedings of the 20th International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED) Vol 1: Design for Life, Milan (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  57. Franke, N., Schreier, M., Kaiser, U.: The `I designed it myself` effect in mass customization. Manag. Sci. 56, 125–140 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Badurdeen, F., Liyanage, J.P.: Sustainable value co-creation through mass customisation: a framework. Int. J. Sustain. Manuf. 2, 180 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Hankammer, S., Hora, M., Canetta, L., Sel, S.K.: User-Interface Design for Individualization Services to enhance sustainable consumption and production. Procedia CIRP. 47, 448–453 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  60. Schoormann, T., Behrens, D., Knackstedt, R.: Carsharing Geschäftsmodelle – Entwicklung eines bausteinbasierten Modellierungsansatzes. In: Thomas, O., Nüttgens, M., Fellmann, M. (eds.) Smart Service Engineering, pp. 303–325. Springer Fachmedien, Wiesbaden (2017)

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research is partly funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the State of Lower Saxony (Investitions- und Förderbank Niedersachsen—NBank) in the scope of the research project SmartHybrid—Process Engineering (ID: ZW 6-85003451) and Product Engineering (ID: ZW 6- 85003608). We would like to thank them for their support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Product Development, Leibniz University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany

    Paul Christoph Gembarski, Daniel Schreiber & Roland Lachmayer

  2. University of Hildesheim, Department of Information Systems, Hildesheim, Germany

    Thorsten Schoormann & Ralf Knackstedt

Authors
  1. Paul Christoph Gembarski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Thorsten Schoormann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Daniel Schreiber
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ralf Knackstedt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Roland Lachmayer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Paul Christoph Gembarski , Thorsten Schoormann or Daniel Schreiber .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Stephan Hankammer

  2. Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark

    Kjeld Nielsen

  3. RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Frank T. Piller

  4. RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Günther Schuh

  5. RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany

    Ning Wang

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG, part of Springer Nature

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Gembarski, P.C., Schoormann, T., Schreiber, D., Knackstedt, R., Lachmayer, R. (2018). Effects of Mass Customization on Sustainability: A Literature-Based Analysis. In: Hankammer, S., Nielsen, K., Piller, F., Schuh, G., Wang, N. (eds) Customization 4.0. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77556-2_18

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation