Democratizing Innovation

Business & Finance, Career Planning & Job Hunting, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurship & Small Business
Cover of the book Democratizing Innovation by Eric von Hippel, The MIT Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Eric von Hippel ISBN: 9780262250177
Publisher: The MIT Press Publication: February 17, 2006
Imprint: The MIT Press Language: English
Author: Eric von Hippel
ISBN: 9780262250177
Publisher: The MIT Press
Publication: February 17, 2006
Imprint: The MIT Press
Language: English

The process of user-centered innovation: how it can benefit both users and manufacturers and how its emergence will bring changes in business models and in public policy.

Innovation is rapidly becoming democratized. Users, aided by improvements in computer and communications technology, increasingly can develop their own new products and services. These innovating users—both individuals and firms—often freely share their innovations with others, creating user-innovation communities and a rich intellectual commons. In Democratizing Innovation, Eric von Hippel looks closely at this emerging system of user-centered innovation. He explains why and when users find it profitable to develop new products and services for themselves, and why it often pays users to reveal their innovations freely for the use of all.The trend toward democratized innovation can be seen in software and information products—most notably in the free and open-source software movement—but also in physical products. Von Hippel's many examples of user innovation in action range from surgical equipment to surfboards to software security features. He shows that product and service development is concentrated among "lead users," who are ahead on marketplace trends and whose innovations are often commercially attractive.

Von Hippel argues that manufacturers should redesign their innovation processes and that they should systematically seek out innovations developed by users. He points to businesses—the custom semiconductor industry is one example—that have learned to assist user-innovators by providing them with toolkits for developing new products. User innovation has a positive impact on social welfare, and von Hippel proposes that government policies, including R&D subsidies and tax credits, should be realigned to eliminate biases against it. The goal of a democratized user-centered innovation system, says von Hippel, is well worth striving for. An electronic version of this book is available under a Creative Commons license.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The process of user-centered innovation: how it can benefit both users and manufacturers and how its emergence will bring changes in business models and in public policy.

Innovation is rapidly becoming democratized. Users, aided by improvements in computer and communications technology, increasingly can develop their own new products and services. These innovating users—both individuals and firms—often freely share their innovations with others, creating user-innovation communities and a rich intellectual commons. In Democratizing Innovation, Eric von Hippel looks closely at this emerging system of user-centered innovation. He explains why and when users find it profitable to develop new products and services for themselves, and why it often pays users to reveal their innovations freely for the use of all.The trend toward democratized innovation can be seen in software and information products—most notably in the free and open-source software movement—but also in physical products. Von Hippel's many examples of user innovation in action range from surgical equipment to surfboards to software security features. He shows that product and service development is concentrated among "lead users," who are ahead on marketplace trends and whose innovations are often commercially attractive.

Von Hippel argues that manufacturers should redesign their innovation processes and that they should systematically seek out innovations developed by users. He points to businesses—the custom semiconductor industry is one example—that have learned to assist user-innovators by providing them with toolkits for developing new products. User innovation has a positive impact on social welfare, and von Hippel proposes that government policies, including R&D subsidies and tax credits, should be realigned to eliminate biases against it. The goal of a democratized user-centered innovation system, says von Hippel, is well worth striving for. An electronic version of this book is available under a Creative Commons license.

More books from The MIT Press

Cover of the book Yuck! by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Fascist Pigs by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Engineers and the Making of the Francoist Regime by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book The Problem With Software by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Remaking the News by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Reforming the Unreformable by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Sacrifice Zones by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book The Coming Generational Storm by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Foundations of Statistical Natural Language Processing by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Entanglements by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Sequel to Suburbia by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Digital Signatures by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Inside the Fed by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Pirate Politics by Eric von Hippel
Cover of the book Japan's Dietary Transition and Its Impacts by Eric von Hippel
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy