Investing Quote by Eric von Hippel
““Second, lead users are a much broader category than customers of a specific firm, and many have incentives that differ from those of customers. Lead users generating innovations of interest to manufacturers can reside, as we have seen, at the leading edges of target markets, and also in advanced analog markets. The innovations that some of these develop are certainly disruptive from the viewpoint of some manufacturers—””
About This Quote
Source Book: "Democratizing Innovation", 2005
Lead users, broader than customers, generate innovations that can be disruptive to manufacturers.
In simple terms: Lead users create disruptive innovations.
Key Takeaway
Identify and collaborate with lead users.
Themes
innovation
lead users
market
disruption
Mood
analytical
strategic
Type
business
insight
When to use this quote
- Product development
- market research
- R&D strategy
- entrepreneurship
Key Concepts
User innovation
lead user theory
disruptive tech
Questions to Reflect On
- How to align lead user incentives?
- When does disruption become harmful?
A Different Perspective
Lead users may have conflicting goals with firms.
