User-driven innovation. Are you activating your lead users?
User-driven innovation. Are you activating your lead users?
Yes
No
Do you have any “lead users”: customers with a deep interest and expertise in your particular product, and customers who are advanced in the sense that they want to experience new products and services before others?
Can you easily identify you lead users (for example regular customers, members of associations, boards etc)?
Are you closely acquainted with your lead customers, for example through membership of the same organisations, clubs etc?
Are you planning radically new products/services?
It is likely that some of your lead users will find it interesting to test prototypes and contribute in the development of your new product/service?
Did you consider what kinds of benefit that lead user could achieve from helping you in your development processes? (experience, joy, prestige, saved holiday costs, social contacts etc)
Can you set up a test program, where you systematically tap the knowledge and ideas from your lead users?
Are you ready to allocate sufficient time (your time and staff's time) to work with the lead users?
Can you amend and modify the product/service in the process and continually test new versions with the lead users?
Can you set up websites where lead users discuss the product with each other and with you?
Can your lead users be of any help in a subsequent marketing?