Sustainability and Social Responsibility

Conceptualizing Consumers’ Decision-Making Process of Using Wearable Technology Through the Sustainability Lens

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Abstract

In this conceptual study, we showcase the need for developing an inclusive theoretical framework to explain consumers’ decision-making process of using wearable technology through incorporating different pillars of sustainability. By conducting an extensive literature review on consumer behavior and decision-making process, sustainability theories, and consumers’ adoption of wearable technology, the inclusive framework was proposed. This framework consists of two main blocks to provide a comprehensive understanding of consumers’ decision-making process. The first block demonstrates how pro-environmental values, sustainability-related cultural dimensions, and beliefs shape personal and social norms. The second block reflects consumers’ integrative evaluation and information processing systems of using wearable technology through the sustainability lens. This inclusive framework can assist industry professionals to develop, design, and manufacture more successful wearables by considering consumers’ essential pro-environmental values and sustainability criteria. This study also urges our disciplinary researchers to give more attention to integrative theory building.

Keywords: Sustainability, wearable technology, decision-making process

How to Cite:

Bakhshian, S. & Lee, Y., (2022) “Conceptualizing Consumers’ Decision-Making Process of Using Wearable Technology Through the Sustainability Lens”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 78(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.13573