Ebook: Embedded Lead Users inside the Firm: How Innovative User Employees contribute to the Corporate Product Innovation Process

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.​

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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.

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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.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Focus and scope....Pages 1-10
Conceptual foundations of the embedded lead user phenomenon....Pages 11-34
When passion meets profession – How embedded lead users contribute to firm innovation....Pages 35-68
A framework for studying embedded lead users....Pages 69-73
Embedded lead users and market-directed dispositions....Pages 75-111
Embedded lead users – how are they different and why does it matter....Pages 113-153
Integration of Findings, Discussion and Conclusion....Pages 155-173
Back Matter....Pages 9-9

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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.

Content:
Front Matter....Pages 1-1
Focus and scope....Pages 1-10
Conceptual foundations of the embedded lead user phenomenon....Pages 11-34
When passion meets profession – How embedded lead users contribute to firm innovation....Pages 35-68
A framework for studying embedded lead users....Pages 69-73
Embedded lead users and market-directed dispositions....Pages 75-111
Embedded lead users – how are they different and why does it matter....Pages 113-153
Integration of Findings, Discussion and Conclusion....Pages 155-173
Back Matter....Pages 9-9
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