Lead User Innovation

How can you evaluate potential lead user
candidates?
…and other characteristics that lead to most innovative results in lead user workhops
Lead User Matrix:
à� Trend position and expected benefit: position in the matrix
à� Current main source of benefit (using, selling): design of circles
à� Market origin (target or analogous market): color of circles
à� Novelty of idea: size of circles
Further aspects of the person:
à� Degree of use experience (in his/her market)
à� Technical knowledge (in his/her market)
à� Actual innovative activities (related to the target market problem)
à� Aptitude to participate in the workshop (ability to communicate with others, etc)
Further aspects of the market the person comes from:
à� Market distance (to the target market): in terms of market related aspects
à� Technical distance (to the target market): in terms of technical related aspects (how much
has to be modified to solve the target market problem?)
à� Progressiveness distance (peer or advanced analogous market)
Further aspects of the idea:
à� Status of the idea (idea, concept, prototype or commercial product)
Source: Hienerth/Poetz/von Hippel (2007)
© Marion Poetz 2011