Zugl.: Hamburg, Univ., Diss., 2008

The need to economically identify rare subjects within large, poorly-mapped search spaces is a frequently-encountered problem for social scientists and managers. It is notoriously difficult, for example, to identify "the best new CEO for our company," or the "best three lead users to participate in our product development project." Mass screening of entire populations or samples becomes steadily more expensive as the number of acceptable solutions within the search space becomes rarer. The search strategy of "pyramiding" is a potential solution to this problem under many conditions. Pyramiding is a search process based upon the idea that people with a strong interest in a topic or field tend to know people more expert than themselves. In this paper we report upon four experiments empirically exploring the efficiency of pyramiding searches relative to mass screening. We find that pyramiding on average identified the most expert individual in a group on a specific topic with only 28.4% of the group interviewed - a great efficiency gain relative to mass screening. Further, pyramiding identified one of the top 3 experts in a population after interviewing only 15.9% of the group on average. We discuss conditions under which the pyramiding search method is likely to be efficient relative to screening.

To achieve and maintain a superior competitive position, firms must develop market sensing capability-the ability to sense events and trends in markets ahead of competitors (Day 1994a). According to Day, in firms with superior market sensing capability, "the processes for gathering, interpreting, and using market information are more systematic, thoughtful, and anticipatory than in other firms" [emphasis added]. Although Day asserted that market orientation captures the essence of a market sensing capability, researchers have suggested that market orientation, by itself, does not provide the requisite ability to develop competitive advantage because of its focus on detecting rather than anticipating market trends. While prior research, most notably pertaining to market orientation, has addressed the detection of current market trends, a gap in our knowledge remains regarding the ability to anticipate future market conditions. This research seeks to address this lacuna by exploring a firm's market foresight capability, defined as the organizational capability that allows the firm to anticipate emerging shifts in the market before they are evident to competitors. Organizations possessing superior market foresight capability derive a multitude of benefits from having greater insight into future market conditions. These benefits include the ability to determine which future market trends warrant further exploration and exploitation, the identification of critical resources that will be needed in the future, and-of primary interest in this dissertation-the ability to develop new products that meet customer needs in the future. This research seeks to better inform managers as to the organizational characteristics that enhance the firm's ability to anticipate future markets by developing and testing a model of the antecedents and new product outcomes of a firm's market foresight capability. The constructs selected as determinants of market foresight capability are supported by dynamic capability theory, which focuses on the organization's information processes, learning culture, and coordination/integration influences that elevate lower-level capabilities of individuals and teams to an organization-level or dynamic capability. The organizational information processes that are hypothesized to positively impact market foresight capability include active scanning, market experimentation, and lead user collaboration. The impact of information processes on market foresight capability is contingent on an organization's learning culture (future orientation and learning orientation) and interdepartmental connectedness, which influence the coordination and integration of information between organizational actors. A firm's potential for long-term competitive advantage lies in using the insights resulting from its market foresight capability to create advantageous resource configurations. To create valuable resource configurations, the firm with superior market foresight capability must capitalize on its ability to anticipate change through the development of new product and service offerings that better serve the needs of customers. It is hypothesized that superior market foresight capability results in heightened new product creativity, faster speed to market, and better market-entry timing. These new product outcomes of market foresight capability are further hypothesized to lead to superior new product financial performance. Of course, firms cannot realize the hypothesized new product benefits unless they are able to capitalize on market opportunities. Therefore, the relationships between market foresight capability and new product outcomes are hypothesized to be contingent on organizational inertia.

Ce travail aborde la question du rôle des communautés virtuelles d'intérêt dans la communication et la co-création de valeur pour les énergies renouvelables en tant qu'innovation. Malgré la multiplicité et diversité des études portant sur les communautés virtuelles, la connaissance, à la fois théorique et pratique, de la manière avec laquelle les membres de ces communautés virtuelles communiquent et co-créent de la valeur pour les innovations demeure limitée. Deux champs théoriques complémentaires ont été mobilisés, la théorie de l'acteur-réseau et la théorie du Lead user, afin de mieux comprendre comment s'effectue cette communication et co-création de valeur pour les énergies renouvelables au sein des « réseaux des communautés virtuelles » et d’élaborer un cadre d'analyse et conceptuel appropriés. Pour ce faire, trois études ont été menées. Une première étude documentaire a été réalisée pour identifier et recenser les diverses parties prenantes dans la communication et la gestion de valeurs co-créées au sein des réseaux de communautés virtuelles d'intérêt pour les énergies renouvelables. Une seconde étude à été menée sur la base de trois « réseaux des communautés virtuelles d'intérêt pour les énergies renouvelables » dans le but de montrer comment les membres-actants de ces réseaux communiquent et co-créent de la valeur pour cette innovation. Une dernière étude a été réalisée sur la base de 28 entretiens semi-directifs afin de montrer comment les diverses parties prenantes communiquent et gèrent les divers types de valeurs co-créés au sein de ces réseaux. Les résultats obtenus ont permis de conceptualiser deux processus. Un premier processus a été mis en oeuvre afin de montrer comment les membres-actants des communautés virtuelles communiquent et co-créent de la valeur au sein de ces réseaux : le « processus en ligne de communication et de co-création de valeur pour les innovations centré sur l’utilisateur ». Un second processus a été conceptualisé dans le but de mettre en oeuvre la stratégie de communication et de gestion de valeurs cocréées via ces réseaux: le « processus stratégique de communication et de gestion de valeurs co-créées pour les innovations au sein des réseaux des communautés virtuelles ». Par ailleurs,l'implication mutuelle et l'intégration des divers acteurs/actants au sein des réseaux de communautés virtuelles (à savoir les utilisateurs, le réseau en tant qu'actant, les contributions, les valeurs co-créées, ainsi que les community managers) permettent de communiquer, de diffuser, de co-créer collectivement et de redéfinir l'innovation en tant que résultat d'un système d'interactions sociotechniques, favorisant la stabilisation de cette innovation et sa mise en boîte noire. / This work addresses the issue of the role of virtual communities of interest in the communication and the co-creation of value for renewables as an innovation. Despite the multiplicity and diversity of studies based on virtual communities, both theoretical and practical knowledge of how members of these virtual communities communicate and co-create value for innovation remains limited. In order to better understand the way of communicating, value co-creating and building an approriate analytical and conceptual framework, two complementary theoretical fields were mobilized : the actor-network theory and the lead user theory. Three studies were conducted. A primary study was conducted to identify the various stakeholders in the communication and the management of co-created value within virtual communities’networks of interest in renewables. A second study was conducted on the basis of three « networks of virtual communities of interest in renewable energies » in order to highlight how members of these networks communicate and co-create values for this innovation. A final study based on 28 interviews was conducted to understand how the various stakeholders communicate and manage diverse types of co-created values within virtual communities’networks related to renewables. Results enable to conceptualize two diverse processes. A first process was implemented to show how members of virtual communities communicate and co-create value within virtual communities’networks of interest in renewable energies: the « online user centred co-creation of value and communication of innovation process ». A second process was established in order to implement the strategy of communication and management of co-created value through virtual communities’networks of interest in innovation: the « strategic process of communication and co-creation of value to innovation management within virtual communities’networks ». Moreover, mutual involvement and integration of various actors within virtual communities’networks (such as : users, networks, contributions, co-created values and community managers) enable to communicate, to diffuse, to co-create collectively,to redefine the innovation as a result of a socio-technical system and to foster the «stabilization» of this innovation.

Sweden’s Defence Forces are in the process of procuring a new personal firearm to replace the current Ak5 (a version of the FN FNC) which has been in service for almost 35 years. There are many opinions on this matter and a great deal of interest among the future users, ie the soldiers and officers.  Our study aims to develop a deeper understanding of the user expectations for this new weapon. We are using a qualitative, inductive method with semi-structured interviews and netnography.von Hippel’s lead user concept has been the main reference for the design of this thesis, which means that we have interviewed those users who are perceived to have more to gain from a product development than other users. A lead user is often knowledgeable in his or her topic, might be leading development within the topic and it is not unusual for the lead user to have a social standing permitting him or her to influence others regarding the topic. We have also used internet forums discussing firearms to broaden the study since we know that a lot of the current discussions are occurring online and we expect this trend to continue in the near future. On top of the characteristics users want in a new weapon, some other aspects have come to light during the course of our research, these are also discussed in the thesis. Why is there an unproportionate amount of time spent on discussing firearms? Is there a greater value to a personal firearm than just its function? What role should the user perspective play in the Swedish Armed Forces? What are the consequences of the users being dissatisfied with the product? What is the role of the assault rifle in the Swedish Defence Forces and what specific purpose is it meant to fill? Is it possible to fit all purposes with one single weapon, which has been the role of the Ak5 for long periods of time. How should the Swedish Defence Forces respond to the fact that heavy body armour is issued to Russian troops? The Swedish Armed Forces has made an attempt at involving the user perspective in the process but our study should be seen as an important complement to this effort. / Sverige är på väg att göra en anskaffning av ett nytt eldhandvapen för att ersätta Ak5 som snart har tjänstgjort 35 år i Försvarsmakten. Det finns många åsikter bland de framtida brukarna och intresset är stort. I vår studie försöker vi få en djupare förståelse för vilka förväntningar användarna, dvs. soldaterna och officerarna, har på det nya vapnet. Metoden vi har använt är en kvalitativ, induktiv metod med semistrukturerade intervjuer och netnografi. Vi har använt oss av von Hippels lead user concept (von Hippel, 2005) , vilket innebär att vi har intervjuat de användare som av olika skäl anses ha mer att ge i en produktutveckling jämfört med andra användare. Oftast är en lead user mycket väl insatt i sitt ämne, kan driva utveckling inom ämnet och har inte sällan en social ställning som gör att hen kan påverka andra brukares åsikt i ämnet. Vi har även breddat studien med analys av nätforum som diskuterar ämnet nästa eldhandvapen, då vi menar att mycket av diskussionen pågår just online och att även mycket av diskussionen i samband med och efter införandet kommer att ske i dessa forum. Förutom en bild av vilka egenskaper användarna vill ha i det nya vapnet, så har det under studien framkommit en del andra aspekter, vilka också diskuteras i uppsatsen.   Varför läggs oproportionerligt mycket tid på att diskutera just eldhandvapen? Är eldhandvapnets betydelse större än själva funktionen? Vilken roll bör brukarperspektivet ha i Försvarsmakten? Vilka är konsekvenserna om användarna är missnöjda med produkten? Vilken är automatkarbinens roll i Försvarsmakten, dvs vilken funktion skall den fylla? Går det att lösa alla våra behov med ett enhetsvapen, vilket Ak5 i perioder har varit.  Hur ska Försvarsmakten lösa problemet med att Ryssland utrustar sina soldater med tunga kroppsskydd?Försvarsmakten har gjort en ansats till att omhänderta brukarperspektivet men vi menar att vår studie är ett viktigt tillskott till detta.

This thesis looks to explore from a user-centered standpoint, which mobile application features are relevant in the social integration of new arrivals in Sweden. Mobiles are used by individuals who are moving away from home not only to stay connected to their close ones but also as a way for empowerment and adaption in their new homes. Access to information helps immigrants to face the new challenges new host societies present. Nowadays mobiles and more specifically smartphones are becoming the principal sources for new arrivals to obtain information. As mobiles become more common among immigration groups, governments and institutions are turning to them as new ways for addressing migration challenges such as integration. This thesis, through a participatory design study, explores possible mobile digital application features that could be relevant in the social integration of immigrants. The goal is to develop through a cooperative and co-design method a prototype of a mobile application that can fit better with the necessities of new arrivals and can also facilitate better ways for social integration. As a result, it could be determinate that features that provide users the ability to gather information from one source are the most important for immigrants. Additionally, users want to be able to have control over the information they are receiving according to what phase they are at the integration process. Also, digital features seem not to be enough and digital and offline cooperation are suggested. In the process, participants provided innovative ways on how integration challenges can be addressed.

Syfte Syftet med denna uppsats var att identifiera begränsningarna som företag i tidigt skede stöter på vid involvering av användare i produktutvecklingsprocessen. De huvudsakliga begränsningarna för användarcentrerad design samt på vilka sätt dessa kan arbetas runt presenteras och diskuteras. Ett ramverk för effektiva samarbeten med användare presenteras, vilket företag som befinner sig i ett tidigt skede kan följa för att skapa innovativa teknikprodukter. Design/metod Denna studie har till största del genomförts i form av ett flertal praktiska experiment där användare deltagit och bidragit till nya produktkoncept på Shortcut Labs som är en svensk startup. Tillvägagångssättet skedde enligt s.k. ’black box testing’ där ingen klar hypotes användes för varje experiment utan datan från varje steg kom till användning vid planeringen av nästa. Resultat Studien visar att många av begränsningarna för användarcentrerad design som identifierats i tidigare forskning och litteratur gäller även för ett företag i tidigt skede. Därtill tyddliggörs varför ’lead user’-metoden innebär vissa svårigheter för unga tillverkande företag av konsumentprodukter. Ramverket som presenteras som ett resultat av de utförda experimenten är en steg-för-steg guide som ett tillverkande företag i tidigt skede kan följa för att effektivt dra nytta av de olika typer av användare som kan involveras i en produktutvecklingsprocess. Avgränsningar/konsekvenser Tidsramen och omfattningen av studien innebar att det presenterade ramverket endast är framtaget för produktutvecklingsprocessens initiala faser; idégenerering samt konceptutvecklingsfaserna. Den begränsade urvalsgruppen samt mindre mängden av användare kan ha bidragit till snedvridning av insamlad data. Bland utvecklingsmöjligheter för forskning i ämnet föreslås en fortsättning på studien genom produktutvecklingens alla faser inklusive produktlansering. Originalitet/värde Marknaden för IoT-relaterade produkter är fortfarande i sin linda. Studien birdrar till existerande forskning kring användarinvolvering genom att belysa hur detta fungerar för företag i tidiga skeden inom marknaden för sakernas internet. Genomförandet beskrivs ur utvecklingsteamets perspektiv för att se hur man kan skapa innovativa produkter som möter en allt mer krävande användare hårdare marknad. / Purpose The purpose of this thesis was to identify what limitations early stage companies face when involving users in a new product development process. The main limitations of a user centered design approach are stated and solutions or modifications to these limitations are suggested and discussed. A framework that incorporates the proposed solutions was produced that suggests an outline for an effective process that early stage companies can follow if they aim to create innovative products for the IoT market. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted by first hand experimental research involving users to produce a new product concept at Shortcut Labs, an early stage ‘startup’ company. The experimental ‘black box testing’ approach used was necessary as it allowed the authors to perform experimental studies, based on a non-hypothetical question, to determine the motivation for the next stage. Findings The research conducted found that many of the previously identified limitations of a user centered design approach held true in an early stage company. In addition, key sections of the lead user method are not applicable in an early stage consumer product company due to the market area and substantial resource requirements. The framework produced as a result of the experimental approach proposes a step by step guide in which consumer orientated early stage companies can follow to effectively leverage the inputs from multiple types of users when undertaking an NPD project. Research limitations/implications The limited sample size and locality bias of the involved users was a constraint. Furthermore, the timeframe and scope of the thesis meant that this framework is only applicable during the ideation and concept development stages. Further work is required to establish how to effectively involve users through the remaining phases until product launch. Originality/value The IoT market in which this thesis was conducted is rapidly developing and still in its infancy. Little previous work had been conducted in user involvement specifically for early stage companies or this market. The study looks through the lens of a project development team in order to provide insights to better develop innovative products that meet the needs of an ever more demanding user.

Förståelsen för användarnas behov är i centrum för att kunna utveckla produkter som är välanpassade för användarna. Skidutrustning är generellt definierad av sina funktioner, användbarhet och sin prestanda och därför är dess utveckling till stor grad styrd av teknik. Hur företag går tillväga för att uppfylla användarnas behov ser olika ut från företag till företag. Forskning kring olika metoder för användarinvolvering görs för att kunna ta fram produkter som på bästa sätt uppfyller användarens behov. Syftet med denna studie är att studera hur användarna involveras i produktutvecklingsprocessen för skidutrustning. Undersöka vilka metoder företagen använder för att involvera användarna och under vilka faser de involveras, samt att erhålla information om hur denna data bearbetas och hur den används i produktutvecklingsprocessen. Studien analyserar hur olika skidföretag i Norden integrerar användarna i sina utvecklingsprocesser och diskuterar sedan dess fördelar, nackdelar och konsekvenser. En litteraturstudie gjordes för att ta fram en teoretisk referensram. Fyra olika skidföretag i Norden som producerar alpinskidor intervjuades utifrån en intervjuguide som tagits fram för att svara på studiens frågeställningar. Därefter transkriberades intervjuerna, nyckelord hittades och sex stycken teman togs fram. Dessa teman är; under vilken fas användaren involveras, fördelar, utmaningar, val av användare, val av metod för användarinvolvering och grad av användarinvolvering. Alla företagens likheter och olikheter analyserades och jämfördes mot varandra och mot litteraturen under dessa sex teman, därefter kunde slutsatser dras under alla dessa teman. Studien kom fram till att prototyptestning är viktig för produktutvecklingen enligt samtliga intervjuade företag. Användarna kan utöver prototyptestning involveras på flera sätt och till högre samt lägre grad, det är också möjligt att användarna inte involveras utöver prototyptestning. Samtliga företag ansåg att de involverar användarna så mycket som de tycker är passande och möjligt för produkten som utvecklas. När företagen jämfördes mot varandra visade det sig att graden och metoden av användarinvolvering varierade mycket. Trots att de delar samma syn gällande att användarinvolvering är gynnsamt för utvecklingen av produkter. Det spekulerades kring paralleller mellan företagens framgång samt grad av användarinvolvering men inga tydliga slutsatser kunde dras. / In today's society, it is inevitable that the need for users' inputs are increasingly utilized by companies. Understanding the users' needs and wishes is at the center of being able to develop products that are well adapted to the users. Research on different methods is available in many different business areas as there are several examples of its profitability. Ski equipment is generally defined by its features, usability, durability and performance, therefore is its development largely governed by technology. The origin and purpose of this study is to investigate how the users are involved in the ski manufacturing business area. This study explores different methods for user involvement and seeks to understand how different degrees of user involvement are used in practice relative to the literature. This study further analyzes how different ski companies in the Nordic countries integrate users into their product development process and investigates its advantages, disadvantages and consequences. A literature study was conducted to develop a theoretical reference framework composed by various theories that had previously been researched. Thereafter, four different ski companies who produce alpine skis in the Nordic countries were interviewed based on an interview guide that had been developed to answer the research questions. Subsequently, the interviews were transcribed, keywords were traced, six themes were developed and studied in more detail. These themes are; the product developments phases, benefits, challenges, choice of user for the development process, choice of method for user involvement and degree of user involvement. All the companies' similarities and differences were analyzed within the six themes and conclusions were drawn under all of the themes. This study displayed that prototype testing is important for the product development process and is used by all interviewed companies. In addition to prototype testing, users could be involved in more ways and to greater extents. The interviewed companies showed similarities when users were involved in prototype testings but in retrospect, differences in choice of methods and degree of user involvement was immensely varied between the companies. All the companies felt that they involved the users as much as they thought fit and was possible for the product to develop. However, when the companies were compared to each other, it turned out that the degree of user involvement varied greatly. Parallels between the companies' success and degree of user involvement are speculated but no clear conclusions could be drawn.

什麼是創新的來源，許多人會認為創新來自於更好的產品功能或是更高階的設計概念。然而，也有人會認為創新來自於使用者。 如果創新來自於使用者，那麼我們是否可以要求他們描述自己的需要，便可以知道如何創造新的產品或服務呢？ 從上述例子我們可以推論，使用者不一定明白知道自己真正的需要，若沒有完善的輔佐機制，使用者無法成為產品/服務創新的來源。 本研究發現，深入瞭解使用者的情境脈絡，可以發現新的創新來源。為了分析使用者的情境脈絡如何影響到組織對於資訊安全的需求，本研究調查六個來自不同產業的個案，並檢驗不同使用者的情境脈絡，如何影響到該組織對與資安的看法與行為。 事實上，個案的田野調查真實地呈現了如何將使用者的”洞見”轉化成產品/服務創新的最佳來源。來自五個不同產業的個案不但展現了大相逕庭的資安痛點，同時也廣泛地觸及了五個在未來具有高度發展潛力的領域，資安相關人員所關心的資安議題。 本研究強調，當我們試著瞭解使用者在不同產業處理資安議題時，深入地探索與思考使用者所處的情境脈絡時，我們一定會發掘到許多產品/服務創新的機會，以及相對應的組織管理議題。 / What are the sources of innovation? Many people would consider better technical functions or superior industrial designs as innovations. Currently, more people would argue that innovative ideas come from users. Therefore, if we ask users to describe their needs, we will know how to innovate our products or services. But, users’ inputs might not always be right because they might not know what they really want. Our research suggests that ideas of innovation may better be inspired by user’s local practices. To analyze how local practices may influence an organisation’s security requirements, this paper presents five case studies and examines the contextual details affecting the expectations of different organizations. Indeed, this field study illustrates how customers’ insights could become a rich source of product/service innovation. It not only underscores the security pain points in each firm, but also exposes broader security issues in five different market segments. The findings indicate that when we come to appreciate how users make sense of computer security in their actual business situations, we are able to identify viable ideas for innovation in products, services and organization management.

No description available.