Emerging ideas for improving market service from enhanced knowledge and exposure to international experiences

stakeholders enabled enhanced understanding of the daily operation of the Aldrich Bay Market and experiences of stakeholders therein.

Emerging ideas for improving market service from enhanced knowledge and exposure to international experiences

Simultaneously,thebefore-and-aftertestindicatesthattherespondentsweremorecapable of identifying direction for change to improve market service after the social lab process (Table 3, item 49). However, they did not have corresponding confidence in alleviating current problems of market service (Table 3, item 48), nor improving the market situation under the current system (Table 3, item 50).

Table 3

No.

Rating increased

Rating decreased No change Total Z p

48

49

50 I think the current problems of market service can be alleviated. I have found the direction for improving market service. Under the current system, there is chance to improve the current situation of markets. 6 3 10 19 -0.92 0.36

12 2 5 19 -2.95 <0.005

5 5 9 19 -0.05 0.96

The subsequent focus groups of lab fellows revealed that insight for change to improve market service was stimulated by critical reflection of the lab participants during the Market Lab process. At the start of the Market Lab, pain point of service in the Aldrich Bay Market was defined as insufficient customers and poor business. This initial definition positioned market as a platform for economic activities. Critical reflection from deeper understanding of user experience engendered a reconstruction of value for market service that went beyond its economic function. “Near the end (of Market Lab), (we found that) a market is not a place for buy-and-sell only. It can build relationships between persons. It can be a place for education. It can be a platform for grassroots to start their business, or work. That’s why we have to do these. ” (Lab organizer D, individual interview)

Thelabparticipants beganto seemarket as apublicspacethatcould berevitalized through community building. It was this reconstruction of value for market service that stimulated various prototype ideas like the “community living room” .