TY - GEN
T1 - Investigating the value chain of modern artisanal innovation
AU - Rao, Bharat
AU - Gopi, Ashwin Goutham
PY - 2017/1/4
Y1 - 2017/1/4
N2 - Handmade and custom artisanal goods have seen a global resurgence across several niche market segments, especially over the last decade. However, the study of modern artisanal production and the economy around it has largely been ignored. Besides accounting for only a small scale of production and consumption, artisanal goods are perceived as not conforming to contemporary development and production processes. We argue that current artisanal production has moved away from purely traditional methods and has evolved to incorporate innovative practices. In fact, due to their willingness to experiment, they are quicker to integrate new solutions into their products and processes. Similar themes can also be seen in the practices and perception of their consumers. This provides a niche phenomenon that is ripe for analysis from a technology and innovation perspective. In this paper, we will analyze artisanal value propositions and techniques for design, production, and the effect of branding on such niche products. Through interviews with key decision makers, enablers, funders, and consumers of artisanal projects, we investigate their motivations, methods of design and production, and use of creative design, branding, and technological tools. We then describe implications for researchers, policy makers and practitioners in the manufacturing industry, artisanal or otherwise.
AB - Handmade and custom artisanal goods have seen a global resurgence across several niche market segments, especially over the last decade. However, the study of modern artisanal production and the economy around it has largely been ignored. Besides accounting for only a small scale of production and consumption, artisanal goods are perceived as not conforming to contemporary development and production processes. We argue that current artisanal production has moved away from purely traditional methods and has evolved to incorporate innovative practices. In fact, due to their willingness to experiment, they are quicker to integrate new solutions into their products and processes. Similar themes can also be seen in the practices and perception of their consumers. This provides a niche phenomenon that is ripe for analysis from a technology and innovation perspective. In this paper, we will analyze artisanal value propositions and techniques for design, production, and the effect of branding on such niche products. Through interviews with key decision makers, enablers, funders, and consumers of artisanal projects, we investigate their motivations, methods of design and production, and use of creative design, branding, and technological tools. We then describe implications for researchers, policy makers and practitioners in the manufacturing industry, artisanal or otherwise.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85016218177&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1109/PICMET.2016.7806779
DO - 10.1109/PICMET.2016.7806779
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:85016218177
T3 - PICMET 2016 - Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology: Technology Management For Social Innovation, Proceedings
SP - 1037
EP - 1042
BT - PICMET 2016 - Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology
A2 - Anderson, Timothy R.
A2 - Kocaoglu, Dundar F.
A2 - Niwa, Kiyoshi
A2 - Perman, Gary
A2 - Kozanoglu, Dilek Cetindamar
A2 - Daim, Tugrul U.
PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
T2 - 2016 Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology, PICMET 2016
Y2 - 4 September 2016 through 8 September 2016
ER -