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Volume 20 Issue 02

Failure demand – how part of the total demand can become a burden

Published: 24 Jun 2026 Issue:Volume 20 Issue 02 Apr 2026 Author details below

Teemu Kokko

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland

Marko Maki

Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland

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Research summary

The purpose of this exploratory paper is to increase our understanding about demand. In general terms demand can be divided into two categories - positive demand and negative demand. Positive demand generates business, whereas negative demand can mainly be seen as a cost. In service marketing literature these two categories have been named as value demand and failure demand. The original concept of failure demand is quite company grounded. In this paper we have broadened the concept to cover also customer actions by introducing a supplemented definition. The existing service marketing literature provides limited guidance for coping with failure demand and, therefore, we identify different types of failure demand. Methodologically the topic is approached through an exploratory focus-group interview and three theme-interviews. The empirical results indicate clearly that there is a need for new approaches and that the customer processes and procedures must be constantly assessed and improved. Service capacity problems and communication seem to be the biggest causes for failure demand. Even though customers may carry some responsibility, the general perception among them seems to be that it is purely company´s task to avoid failure demand. Managerially it seems to be beneficial to be aware of one’s demand structure and to develop one’s customer processes on a constant basis. Additionally, customers must be guided towards the most suitable channels. The study as a whole underline the importance of developing our thinking regarding the demand

Article History

Published 24 Jun 2026

How to Cite

Kokko, T. & Maki, M.. (-0001). Failure demand – how part of the total demand can become a burden. Journal of Business and Retail Management Research, Volume 20 Issue 02.

Citation Context

Archive cited by No internal citing article yet
Reference depth 36 sources listed
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APA

Kokko, T. & Maki, M.. (-0001). Failure demand – how part of the total demand can become a burden. Journal of Business and Retail Management Research, Volume 20 Issue 02.

MLA

Kokko, Teemu, and Marko Maki. "Failure demand – how part of the total demand can become a burden." Journal of Business and Retail Management Research, Volume 20 Issue 02, -0001.

Chicago

Teemu Kokko and Marko Maki. "Failure demand – how part of the total demand can become a burden." Journal of Business and Retail Management Research Volume 20 Issue 02 (30 Nov -0001).

Harvard

Kokko, T. & Maki, M. (-0001) Failure demand – how part of the total demand can become a burden. Journal of Business and Retail Management Research, Volume 20 Issue 02

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