Home > Research > Publications & Outputs > The making of a petrol station and the "on-the-...
View graph of relations

The making of a petrol station and the "on-the-move consumer": classification devices and the shaping of markets

Research output: Contribution in Book/Report/Proceedings - With ISBN/ISSNConference contribution/Paperpeer-review

Published
Publication date2009
Host publication25th Annual IMP Conference (Marseilles) - 2009
Place of PublicationN/A
PublisherIndustrial Marketing and Purchasing Group
Number of pages25
<mark>Original language</mark>English
Event25th Annual IMP Conference 2009 - Marseilles, France
Duration: 3/09/20095/09/2009

Conference

Conference25th Annual IMP Conference 2009
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityMarseilles
Period3/09/095/09/09

Conference

Conference25th Annual IMP Conference 2009
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityMarseilles
Period3/09/095/09/09

Abstract

This paper addresses the issue of classification devices and their role in the shaping of markets. We depart from the notion that markets are shaped by multiple calculative agencies and examine how particular forms of calculation are made viable and sustainable. Classification devices, we argue, are the infrastructure that makes calculation possible and sustain particular forms of economic ordering. We illustrate these notions with an empirical, longitudinal study of a fuel retail company and its initiative to re-classify its network of petrol stations across Europe. Our study focuses on the extensive and protracted negotiations over what constitutes appropriate or relevant categories and the multiple perspectives that can be employed to define petrol station types. We illustrate how a store typology plays an important role in making assemblages of ideas (e.g. consumer-on-the-go), objects (e.g. store planograms), and managerial roles (e.g. category managers) coalesce around particular constellations of practices and impact upon the outline of markets.