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The central phenomenon of this book are embedded lead users (ELUs): employees of firms who experience emerging needs and profit from solutions to these needs (i.e. who exhibit lead user characteristics) in relation to one or more of their employing firm's products or services. In three subsequent studies I explore, how embedded lead users contribute to corporate innovation. I show which factors foster the lead userness of employees and what characterizes embedded lead users' behaviors. This holds various implications for firms, e.g. with respect to the integration of user knowledge for innovation.
List of contents
Lead User.- Innovation.- Firm boundaries.- Organizational behavior.- Boundary spanner.
About the author
Tim Schweisfurth completed his doctoral thesis at the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH). He is now working at the Institute for Technology and Innovation Management as a postdoctoral researcher.
Summary
The central phenomenon of this book are embedded lead users (ELUs): employees of firms who exhibit lead user characteristics in relation to their employing firm’s products or services. Examples for this phenomenon exist amongst others in the sporting industry in which users of sporting goods are at the same time employed by manufacturers of these goods. In three consecutive studies TimSchweisfurth explores how embedded lead users contribute to corporate innovation. He shows what factors foster the lead userness of employees and what characterizes embedded lead users’ behaviors. Various implications for firms are discussed, e.g. with respect to leveraging user knowledge for innovation.
