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Lead User and Innovation Strategy
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Lead User Research Strategy
Lead User Identities• Lead Users solve a problem and create a
solution when no solution is currently available in the marketplace
• Lead Users can also be very early adopters of a new product or technology that is expected to become widely used
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The Lead User ConceptWhere Lead Users Live Eric von Hippel
Some Examples of Lead Users• NASCAR drivers and motor oil
• Sales people and communication tools
• University hospitals and experimental medical equipment
• Desert climate residents and solar applications
• Mountain climbers and insular sporting gear
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Lead User Research Approach• Form cross-disciplinary team from
marketing and technical units
• Diverse expertise provides synergy for opportunity search
• Immersion approach fosters creative exploration and sustains momentum
• Projects proceed through four phases
Phase 1: Lay the Foundation• Identify markets to explore
• Determine type and level of innovations desired by stakeholders in the company
• Reconcile the market search with broad company mission and strategy
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Phase 2: Determine the Trends• Identify experts on emerging technologies
and leading edge applications in the area of exploration
• Seek their opinions and insights on what’s changing, what’s out-of-date and what’s coming along on the user horizon
Phase 3: Identify Lead Users• Initiate a networking process to identify
who the lead users of a potential innovation would be
• Gather information on indicators of their promising solutions to unmet needs
• Based on info, shape a product concept
• Assess concept’s potential and company fit
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Phase 4: Develop a Breakthrough• Host a working session with actual lead
users and the lead user research team
• Identify the problems to be solved
• Develop innovative approaches/products that address the lead user need
• Determine whether solutions fit the needs of target market users
• Determine ‘fit’ of solution to the company
Lead User Research Process
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Benefits of Lead User Research • Identifies potentially important technical or
market trends
• Identify highly experienced “participants” in those trends who have compelling needs
• Results identify problems of use or practice that need resolution
• Lead user data can be projected onto the general marketplace of users
Summary Insights• Lead User research formalizes and
systematizes the innovation process• Since lead users usually have developed a
prototype solution, this strategy can reduce the time it takes for a breakthrough
• Companies can reduce the need for internal R&D required to develop solutions that may already be operational