![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](http://www.eurekalert.org/images/back2e.gif){kind=small}
Public release date: 21-Feb-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Ken McGuffin
mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca
416-946-3818
University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management
Toronto We might like to think we're not influenced by other people.
But a new study into group buying mechanisms -- like those used on popular internet websites such as Groupon and LivingSocial -- reveals that telling buyers who come later to the offer how many have already signed up increases the number of purchasers.
Researchers at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management wanted to understand why group buying sites that have entered the market recently have enjoyed greater success than those operating a decade ago, such as Mercata and MobShop. Earlier attempts typically left potential buyers waiting for days before confirming whether or not they had got the offer they had signed up for.
"We think one of the reasons group-buying has been successful recently is because of the short time horizon," says Rotman Prof. Ming Hu, who co-wrote the study with Prof. Mengze Shi and PhD student Jiahua Wu. "It allows for a herding effect."
Another reason is the use of an information structure that discloses to later arrivals how many have already signed onto the deal.
Researchers looked at two ways of designing the purchasing mechanism for a group buy: a simultaneous mechanism, where no one knows how many buyers have come before them, and a sequential mechanism, where a second group of buyers has the advantage of knowing the size of the first group.
The researchers' analytical model shows the most successful mechanism is the sequential one because it eliminates uncertainty for those coming later to the deal, and improves the confidence of those who sign on early, as they're able to track the numbers of those who come after them.
"That boosts confidence," says Prof. Hu, who teaches operations management. Deals for "luxury" services, vs. everyday items, work better in a group buy scenario because they offer consumers a greater benefit.
Group buying sites have become increasingly popular recently, but group buying has appeared in various incarnations for hundreds of years. The website Kickstarter.com links artists with potential buyers who can contribute to the artist's proposed project. If enough buyers commit to financially support the project, the project goes ahead. Musicians such as Beethoven and Mozart used the same mechanism to sell tickets to their concerts.
Group buying has also been used to obtain discounts -- if enough buyers commit within a certain timeframe, they can obtain a substantial cut on the regular price. Although a hallmark of most group buying sites is that committed money is refunded if the deal gets called off, purchasers still experience a "psychological loss" when that happens, and may be more willing to sign on to a deal they feel is guaranteed to happen.
###
For the latest thinking on business, management and economics from the Rotman School of Management, visit www.rotman.utoronto.ca/NewThinking.
The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto is redesigning business education for the 21st century with a curriculum based on Integrative Thinking. Located in the world's most diverse city, the Rotman School fosters a new way to think that enables the design of creative business solutions. The School is currently raising $200 million to ensure Canada has the world-class business school it deserves. For more information, visit www.rotman.utoronto.ca.
For more information:
Ken McGuffin
Manager, Media Relations
Rotman School of Management
University of Toronto
Voice 416.946.3818
E-mail mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca
Follow on Twitter @rotmanschool
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Public release date: 21-Feb-2012[ | E-mail |
Share ] Contact: Ken McGuffin
mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca
416-946-3818
University of Toronto, Rotman School of Management
Toronto We might like to think we're not influenced by other people.
But a new study into group buying mechanisms -- like those used on popular internet websites such as Groupon and LivingSocial -- reveals that telling buyers who come later to the offer how many have already signed up increases the number of purchasers.
Researchers at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Management wanted to understand why group buying sites that have entered the market recently have enjoyed greater success than those operating a decade ago, such as Mercata and MobShop. Earlier attempts typically left potential buyers waiting for days before confirming whether or not they had got the offer they had signed up for.
"We think one of the reasons group-buying has been successful recently is because of the short time horizon," says Rotman Prof. Ming Hu, who co-wrote the study with Prof. Mengze Shi and PhD student Jiahua Wu. "It allows for a herding effect."
Another reason is the use of an information structure that discloses to later arrivals how many have already signed onto the deal.
Researchers looked at two ways of designing the purchasing mechanism for a group buy: a simultaneous mechanism, where no one knows how many buyers have come before them, and a sequential mechanism, where a second group of buyers has the advantage of knowing the size of the first group.
The researchers' analytical model shows the most successful mechanism is the sequential one because it eliminates uncertainty for those coming later to the deal, and improves the confidence of those who sign on early, as they're able to track the numbers of those who come after them.
"That boosts confidence," says Prof. Hu, who teaches operations management. Deals for "luxury" services, vs. everyday items, work better in a group buy scenario because they offer consumers a greater benefit.
Group buying sites have become increasingly popular recently, but group buying has appeared in various incarnations for hundreds of years. The website Kickstarter.com links artists with potential buyers who can contribute to the artist's proposed project. If enough buyers commit to financially support the project, the project goes ahead. Musicians such as Beethoven and Mozart used the same mechanism to sell tickets to their concerts.
Group buying has also been used to obtain discounts -- if enough buyers commit within a certain timeframe, they can obtain a substantial cut on the regular price. Although a hallmark of most group buying sites is that committed money is refunded if the deal gets called off, purchasers still experience a "psychological loss" when that happens, and may be more willing to sign on to a deal they feel is guaranteed to happen.
###
For the latest thinking on business, management and economics from the Rotman School of Management, visit www.rotman.utoronto.ca/NewThinking.
The Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto is redesigning business education for the 21st century with a curriculum based on Integrative Thinking. Located in the world's most diverse city, the Rotman School fosters a new way to think that enables the design of creative business solutions. The School is currently raising $200 million to ensure Canada has the world-class business school it deserves. For more information, visit www.rotman.utoronto.ca.
For more information:
Ken McGuffin
Manager, Media Relations
Rotman School of Management
University of Toronto
Voice 416.946.3818
E-mail mcguffin@rotman.utoronto.ca
Follow on Twitter @rotmanschool
[ | E-mail | Share ] ?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-02/uotr-itd022112.php
sparkle tiger woods robin thicke sacagawea new hope baptist church houston weather associated press
কোন মন্তব্য নেই:
একটি মন্তব্য পোস্ট করুন