How do we prosume? A formal typology of prosumption

Abstract

Prosumption is not an exclusively digital phenomenon, but Internet and digital technologies enable users to participate more frequently in the development of products or other artifacts and become the so-called prosumer—producer and consumer combined. However, the extent to which this is the case remains to be determined. The existing classifications of prosumption are tailored to both non-digital and digital prosumption. Departing from these classifications, this article identifies the formal characteristics of prosumption that occur across different spheres in which the phenomenon is manifested. A new typology of prosumption is proposed as an analytical instrument that allows researchers to encompass the full spectrum of variation in prosumption and examine the differences of prosumer practices in various spheres (digital and otherwise). The proposed typology is based on three dimensions: the nature of prosumer activities in collaborative terms, the initial reason to engage in a prosumer activity, and the level of skills required from a prosumer.