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Democratizing innovation: The evolving phenomenon of user innovation

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Abstract

Almost 30 years ago, researchers began a systematic study of innovation by end users and user firms. At that time, the phenomenon was generally regarded as a minor oddity. Today, it is clear that user-centered innovation is a very powerful and general phenomenon. It is rapidly growing due to continuing advances in computing and communication technologies. It is becoming both an important rival to and an important feedstock for manufacturer-centered innovation in many fields. In this article, I provide an overview of what the international research community now understands about user-centered innovation.

Zusammenfassung

Die wissenschaftliche Forschung zu Nutzerinnovationen begann vor etwa 30 Jahren. Während das Phänomen anfangs noch als eher unbedeutende Kuriosität abgetan wurde, steht seine allgemeine Bedeutung heute ausser Frage. Bedingt durch Fortschritte in IT und Kommunikationstechnologien stellen Nutzerinnovationen in verschiedenen Feldern eine zunehmende Konkurrenz bzw. eine wertvolle Ergänzung für herstellerseitige Innovationsaktivitäten dar. In diesem Artikel wird eine Übersicht über den Stand der Forschung gegeben.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MIT Sloan School of Management, 50 Memorial Drive, E52-556, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA

    Eric von Hippel

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  1. Eric von Hippel
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Correspondence to Eric von Hippel.

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O32, O33

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von Hippel, E. Democratizing innovation: The evolving phenomenon of user innovation. JfB 55, 63–78 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-004-0002-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-004-0002-8

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