Exploring the Contributions of Involving Ordinary Users in Ideation of Technology‐Based Services*

Lead users have long been acknowledged as important contributors to the market success of innovative products and services. The ability of lead users to be such effective innovators has been ascribed to a combination of adequate technological expertise and superior knowledge of the user domain so‐called use experience. Drawing on the apparent success of lead users in innovation, many companies are now attempting to involve other types of users, namely, ordinary users, for ideation at the fuzzy front end (FFE) of new product and service development. However, ordinary users do not usually possess the technological knowledge of lead users, and the existing literature provides little guidance on how to manage such user involvement or its expected contributions. The purpose of the present study is, therefore, to contribute to scholarly knowledge regarding the benefits and management of user involvement during the ideation phase of innovation in technology‐based services. More specifically, the study investigates the contribution made in this respect by “ordinary” users, as opposed to professional developers. The research questions that are addressed are as follows: (1) What contributions do ordinary users make when involved in the FFE for ideation of new technology‐based services; and (2) how is the contribution of the users affected by their knowledge of the underlying technology? The study addresses these questions through a literature review and conceptual analysis of the involvement of users in innovation in mobile telephony, followed by an empirical study using a quasi‐experimental design in which the independent variable is the users' technological knowledge of the underlying mobile telephone system and the dependent variable is the quality of the created idea‐proposals from an innovation perspective. Various scenarios involving guided users, pioneering users, and professionals are investigated. The study finds that the users' knowledge of the underlying technology has an effect on their propensity to contribute with incremental or radical new ideas. The ideas from guided users tend to be more incremental whereas the pioneering users' ideas are more radical. Contrary to the users in the guided user scenarios, the users in the pioneering user scenarios have a propensity to produce ideas that challenge the prevailing dominant logic of the company; these ideas can be used to assist the company to think in new trajectories. The paper proposes that ordinary users should not be expected to contribute ideas that can be directly put into the new product development process; rather, ordinary user involvement should be regarded as a process whereby a company learns about users' needs and is inspired to innovate. The paper concludes that user involvement can actually be a stimulus for review of a company's business strategy.     

Citizen participation in public administration: investigating open government for social innovation

In recent years, public sector organizations have increasingly focused on citizen contribution by adopting instruments known from open innovation. By collaborating with the periphery and leveraging external knowledge, government institutions initiate social innovation and stimulate a positive change for society. This article examines the involvement of citizens in an ideation platform initiated by a local government and investigates the motivations affecting participation intensity. Drawing on self‐determination theory, we analyze what motivates citizens to participate in an open government platform and how these motivations influence participation quantity. Based on a survey among platform users and the analysis of usage data from the platform operator, we find that motivations of citizen participation in public administration greatly vary across forms of participation. Whereas, intrinsic motivation is positively associated with producing and consuming platform content, external and introjected regulation negatively relate to individuals’ active contribution. At the same time, external regulation is positively associated with evaluation behavior.     

转基因技术在我国生物制药领域的应用与发展

转基因技术在制药业中具有广阔的发展前景,我国的基因制药行业已经初具规模,但与世界发达国家存在差距,主要表现在具有自主知识产权的产品较少,产业规模小、经济效益低,目前,基因制药产业面临着历史性的机遇,主要表现在政府支持、资源丰富、基因信息公开、国际交流增加等方面．提高自主开发能力、保护基因资源是当前亟待解决的问题,同时,应加强对基因制药领域技术壁垒的研究与准备。     

The Ability and Willingness Paradox in Family Firm Innovation

We present a framework of how family involvement influences innovation management based on ability (discretion to act) and willingness (disposition to act), two drivers that distinguish family firms from nonfamily firms and lead to heterogeneity among family firms. Paradoxically, family firms have superior ability yet lower willingness to engage in technological innovation. Resolving this paradox should yield new insights about innovation management in general. We summarize and position the papers in this special issue according to these drivers and set out an agenda for further research that will contribute to a better understanding of family firms' heterogeneous and paradoxical behaviors.     

高校基建特点及其管理模式的探讨

高校基本建设是高教事业发展不可或缺的组成部分,当前我国高校基建发展势头迅猛,如何实现对基建项目行之有效的管理,是高校基建部门的一个重要课题。在研究高校基建特点的基础上,对目前高校所应用的基建项目管理模式进行了分析。结合当前高校基建投资多元化的趋势,以及国家在投资体制方面的改革思路,对高校基建管理模式的发展趋势进行了预测。     

MNC foreign investment and industrial disasters: The moderating role of technological,safety management,and philanthropic capabilities

Research Summary: We investigate how industrial disasters can discourage FDI and how MNCs' technological, safety management, and philanthropic capabilities can moderate these effects. Using two unique panel data sets of entry and expansion of U.S. wholly‐owned manufacturing subsidiaries overseas, we found that industrial disasters are associated with reduced foreign entry of wholly‐owned subsidiaries in the disaster industry, but not for all firms in the host country experiencing the disaster. We also found that MNCs' technological, safety management, and philanthropic capabilities can, in some cases, positively moderate the negative relationships between industrial disasters and the foreign entry and expansion of wholly‐owned subsidiaries. Additionally, three‐way interactions with government stability suggest that technological and safety management capabilities substitute government stability in managing industrial disasters, while philanthropic capability complements government stability. Managerial Summary: How can MNCs' technological, safety management, and philanthropic capabilities overcome the effects of industrial disasters such as chemical spills and explosions in host countries? Our results show that industrial disasters are associated with reduced foreign entry of wholly‐owned subsidiaries in the industry in which the industrial disaster occurs, but not for other firms operating in the country experiencing the disaster. However, an MNC's technological capability can, in general, lower the negative consequences of industrial disasters in both the entry and expansion of its wholly‐owned subsidiaries. Regarding the institutional quality of a host country, the results imply that MNCs should develop philanthropic capability when the government stability of the host country is strong, and develop technological and safety management capabilities when the government stability is weak.     

Innovation via new ventures as a conversion strategy for the Chinese defense industry

The Chinese economic system is undergoing a transformation from a centrally planned to a market economic system. The process is difficult for at least two reasons: civilian producers lack innovative capability; R&D intensive defense firms need to shift some of their production to civilian markets. The latter requires management innovations that are difficult to master under present-day conditions. Based on the system characteristics of the Chinese defense industry we discuss its problems in managing technological innovation. We conclude that to facilitate the conversion process to civilian markets Chinese defense firms should be encouraged to split off those activities that are aimed at civilian markets.     

The role of intermediaries in cross‐industry innovation processes

In this article, we investigate the role intermediaries play in the cross‐industry innovation process. Intermediaries are external institutions that support companies in their innovative activities. They are frequently used to bridge gaps between different industries. Our research focuses on the question of which capabilities an intermediary should have in order to achieve success in initiating a cross‐industry innovation. Our empirical base consists of a survey of 107 European manufacturing companies and an analysis of six collaborative cross‐industry innovation projects. The company survey is used to identify the capabilities an intermediary should have during each of the three phases of the innovation process. The cross‐industry projects, each of which involves a Swiss or a German industrial company and an intermediary, provide us with analyzable data. We conclude our study by identifying three types of intermediary: the innovation broadener, the innovation leverager, and the innovation multiplier.     

高成本时代与中国经济转型--兼论节约型经济

最近一段时期，能源、原材料、劳动力和土地的价格不断上升，而国内市场环境还很不完善．国际间的贸易摩擦也在不断增加．所有这些情况导致我国企业一直所依赖的低成本比较优势正在逐步丧失。而在外部成本膨胀的同时．企业的内部成本也没有得到有效控制，因而，在高成本时代来临后，要提高企业的竞争力，政府和企业都必须立即进行新的策略选择。企业要从粗放型生产方式转变为集约型生产方式，逐步引入、消化、吸收技术并最终实现掌握技术优势．通过提高自身的管理水平来节约内部成本。而政府也要尽量给企业创造一个良好的外部市场环境．在发展节约型经济的导向下．积极配合企业转变生产方式，大力发展技术，调整比较优势，并升级产业结构．从以初级产品加工业为主转向机械设备制造业为主。另外，政府还应当立即着手削减企业目前过重的、不合理的税费负担．适当给企业减压。     

The paradox of tie strength in customer relationships for innovation: a longitudinal case study in the sports industry

Current literature argues that firms should have strong ties to customers to benefit from increased customer retention and loyalty. Strong ties, however, have also shown to prevent innovation, suggesting that firms should also develop weak ties to other customer groups. This paper focuses on the potential for strong ties to facilitate, rather than prohibit, innovation. It is based in a 7‐year longitudinal research project with Adidas, a global sporting goods company. From the case, we find that the paradox of tie strength results from an overly simplified view of the nature of company–customer relationships. Contrary to the established literature, we find that strong ties in the Adidas case supported significant innovation. In fact, the involvement resulted in the development of a new product with a radically different product architecture and led to one of the most successful product launches in the company's history. To explain these findings, we introduce the nature of customer participation in a firm's value creation processes as a new dimension of the constitution of firm–customer ties and discuss how such a kind of relationship can develop.     

鲁西北纸业循环经济产业模式初探

从鲁西北纸业工艺流程、技术革新、设备管理、节能降耗、资源利用等方面入手,探索如何发展循环经济、实现行业内部的清洁生产;并从生态工业园区的建设、政府干预等宏观方面,讨论了实现地区循环经济的一些必要条件,以期实现经济与环境发展的双赢,为鲁西北的经济发展做出贡献。     

Innovation strategies in the enzyme industry

Abstract The enzyme industry is characterised by a rapid rate of technological change and market dynamism. There are over 2000 different types of enzymes with patent cover and yet only a fraction of these have been successfully commercially exploited. What innovation strategies are used by UK suppliers? Could the success rate be improved? This paper reports the findings of a recent survey of UK enzyme suppliers to investigate their approaches to the management of innovation. The main thrust of the research considered the role of marketing and especially the role of customer involvement in the innovation process. A variety of approaches were found but essentially the customer has a fairly restricted part to play in innovation in this dynamic and technological market.     

碳税政策对我国工业企业技术创新行为的政策绩效研究

本文以碳税政策对我国工业企业技术创新行为和创新绩效问题为研究对象，分别研究了碳税政策对工业企业研发投入、研发创新模式选择以及研发创新绩效的影响，进而分析了我国工业企业技术创新能力的收敛性。通过研究发现，碳税政策的实施有助于激励工业企业技术创新的自主性，也有利于企业创新绩效的实现。提出我国在碳税政策设计和实践中应坚持建立激励与约束相容的碳税政策、促进碳税征收与碳排放交易协同、匹配碳税征收行政管理体系建设以及利用碳税发起设置低碳产业基金等政策实施路径。     

人力资本在产业集群演化和发展机制中的作用研究

作为区域经济发展的领头模式,产业集群经济现象备受学界和政府瞩目,对其生成机制和发展路径的研究是十分必要的.以人力资本理论为视角进行研究,能够更准确地认识和理解产业集群演化和发展机理,把握其运行规律.说明人力资本对产业集群演化和创新的决定作用,对于我国产业集群的发展和升级具有积极的指导意义.必须充分发挥人力资本效应,推出一系列基于此的产业创新策略,促进产业集群的可持续发展.     

User innovation and everyday practices: micro-innovation in sports industry development

This paper focuses on an underemphasized issue in research on user innovation, namely users' adaptations and micro-innovations and their impact on industry development in user-innovation-intensive industries. It complements previous analyses of rodeo and freestyle-kayaking that explore the role of user innovators in industry development, by focusing on different aspects of micro-innovation: (1) changes in the composition of user base and preferred equipment (2) evolution of everyday practice (3) changes in the settings of these practices and (4) the range of modes of user involvement. Through micro-innovation, users, on the whole, are likely to have more impact on industry development than predicted, and yet the position of lead-users and user–manufacturers may be less powerful relative to outside manufacturers.     

创新项目组合管理绩效关键影响因素的实证研究

为了维持长期的竞争优势,企业需要不断进行技术创新和产品创新。如何在有限的研发资源下使创新项目组合的绩效最大化是企业进行创新管理中面临的主要问题。本文从创新项目组合的战略一致性、平均项目绩效和业务协同3个指标来度量创新项目组合管理绩效,并从流程和管理者的视角研究其关键影响因素。通过实证研究发现,高管参与和项目组合管理流程的设计与实施对项目组合的战略一致性有显著的正向影响;高管参与、项目经理胜任力和项目终止质量对平均项目绩效有显著正向影响;项目经理胜任力、项目组合管理流程的设计与实施和项目中止质量对业务协同有显著正向影响。     

基于灰色系统理论的行业特征对高技术企业技术创新能力的影响研究——以我国2006～2008年高技术产业数据为例

本文应用灰色系统理论考察行业特征对我国高技术企业技术创新能力的影响。(1)在构建的企业技术创新能力评价指标体系的基础上,采用我国2006~2008年高技术产业数据,应用整体性灰色关联分析方法识别了影响我国高技术企业技术创新能力的主要因素和次要因素;(2)应用灰色局势决策方法对我国各高技术产业的技术创新能力进行了排序;(3)应用GM(0,N)模型量化分析了行业特征对我国高技术企业技术创新能力的影响。研究结果表明:R&D密集度、技术密集度、行业开放程度、外资企业规模比重等对我国高技术企业技术创新能力的影响相对显著,而国有企业规模比重、市场集中度、本土企业消化吸收能力等对我国高技术企业技术创新能力的影响相对较弱。根据研究结论,为提升我国高技术企业的技术创新能力,本文进一步提出了针对性的政策建议。     

Managing innovation networks: Exploratory evidence from ICT, biotechnology and nanotechnology networks

This study examines the management of innovation networks which has enjoyed increased recognition in the marketing literature due to its growing prominence and relevance. By testing a causal model relating network factors to outcomes, the study contributes to theory development on managing innovation at the net level of analysis. Consequently, it contributes to the respective marketing literatures on new product development, open innovation, industrial marketing and its emerging network management sub-stream. It also offers a methodological contribution as respondents include key players from businesses, government agencies, research organizations and universities rather than from only one focal organization as studies in extant literature have predominantly done. Findings are based on 219 responses from Australian high technology networks, namely, information and communications technology and biotechnology/nanotechnology. The study offers valuable implications for marketing managers involved in new product development and innovation concerning strategies for managing their inter-organizational innovation initiatives effectively.     

Why should managers be thinking about technology policy?

Courses on the management of innovation and technology seldom treat government technology policies, and the issues they pose for business management. This is unfortunate. In many fields business has a big stake in government technology policies. They can help business, be a waste of money, or actually hurt business. This essay considers three broad issues in contemporary technology policy, that are of significant consequence to business: government support of applied research, the question of how to deal with the decline in business-funded basic research, and the complex questions about intellectual property rights.     

Value innovation in business markets: Breaking the industry recipe

The industrial marketing as well as the strategic management literature stresses the importance of “value innovation” in order to create/sustain competitive advantage and to rejuvenate the organization.In the first part of this article the construct of value innovation is operationalized within the context of selected business-to-business markets. We report the results of an ongoing research project; starting from traditional ways of value creation, the study reveals different types of value innovation initiatives undertaken by industry participants. We observe, however, that networks, firms and managers are embedded in industry recipes. These recipes block the creation and realization of value innovation. Some firms are trying to break out of existing frames and their experiences pinpoint to specific ways of markets sensing, strategic marketing and different marketing-mix tools. As such, the research frames value innovation initiatives in the existing industry contexts and managerial frames, and identifies drivers, barriers and perceived success factors for the process of value innovation.The second part of the article then looks at the stages of value innovation and their impact on marketing, organizations and networks. Based on the data analysis, the paper posits propositions which stress the concept of “multilevel absorptive capacity”.