Why to be a maker? Personal values as motivational goals

Abstract

Maker communities are typically guided by noneconomic incentives to produce a positive impact on society. In this study, we offer novel insights into makers' personal values, understood as motivational goals. Specifically, we performed qualitative laddering interviews with 30 makers gathered via snowball sampling in Taiwan. This study maps the hierarchies governing the goals that motivate makers' intentions to dedicate themselves to the maker movement, anchored in seven personal values: self‐direction, hedonism, benevolence, universalism, stimulation, power and achievement. Accordingly, the findings in this study extend the literature concerning the maker movement; these practical contributions can enable managers and practitioners to develop an ecosystem that favours the development of maker communities.