User innovation

User innovation refers to innovations developed by consumers and end users, rather than manufacturers. Eric von Hippel of MIT discovered that many products and services are actually developed by users, who then give ideas to manufacturers. This is because products are developed to meet the widest possible need; when individual users face problems that the majority of consumers do not, they have no choice but to develop their own modifications to existing products, or entirely new products, to solve their issues. Often, user innovations will share their ideas with manufacturers in hopes of having them produce the product, a process called free revealing.

Related Topics:
User innovation - Innovation - Consumers - End user - Manufacturer - Eric von Hippel - MIT

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