Co-creation, Brokering and Innovation networks: A Model for Innovating with Users
Konsti-Laakso, Suvi (2018-10-19)
Väitöskirja
19.10.2018
Lappeenranta University of Technology
Acta Universitatis Lappeenrantaensis
School of Business and Management
School of Business and Management, Kauppatieteet
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-335-276-6
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-335-276-6
Tiivistelmä
The most recent shift in the innovation paradigm stresses collaboration amongst many different stakeholders and areas of knowledge to emphasise the role of users. While the importance of users for successful innovation has been recognised for some decades, innovating with users has yet to become common practice. This calls for research to examine co-creation in a nuanced way and focus on processes for innovating with users.
This study examines co-creation as a new form of innovation. The focus here is user knowledge and the ways it can be obtained and utilised. This study discusses three concepts related to innovation: co-creation, brokering and innovation networks. The research question for investigation is as follows: How are co-creation, innovation networks and brokering interrelated in the context of innovating with users?
This research approaches the question with a qualitative research design consisting of two multiple case studies and three qualitative experiments. Empirical evidence is collected from living lab activities in Finland. The dissertation is constructed as follows: the first section introduces the topic and provides an overview of the dissertation’s theoretical discussion, methodological aspects, results and conclusions. In the second part are five publications which form the empirical base for the results and conclusions.
The key findings of the empirical studies can be condensed as follows: first, the results indicate that user knowledge is often approached with inadequate actions considering the nature of user knowledge. Second, user co-creation is a trigger and driver for innovation networks; and third, co-creation as a process induces benefits for networks. The main contribution of this dissertation is a novel model for innovating with users, which clarifies the interrelations between co-creation, networks and brokering. In addition to its academic contributions, this study provides practical offerings for advancing the role of users in innovation activities.
This study examines co-creation as a new form of innovation. The focus here is user knowledge and the ways it can be obtained and utilised. This study discusses three concepts related to innovation: co-creation, brokering and innovation networks. The research question for investigation is as follows: How are co-creation, innovation networks and brokering interrelated in the context of innovating with users?
This research approaches the question with a qualitative research design consisting of two multiple case studies and three qualitative experiments. Empirical evidence is collected from living lab activities in Finland. The dissertation is constructed as follows: the first section introduces the topic and provides an overview of the dissertation’s theoretical discussion, methodological aspects, results and conclusions. In the second part are five publications which form the empirical base for the results and conclusions.
The key findings of the empirical studies can be condensed as follows: first, the results indicate that user knowledge is often approached with inadequate actions considering the nature of user knowledge. Second, user co-creation is a trigger and driver for innovation networks; and third, co-creation as a process induces benefits for networks. The main contribution of this dissertation is a novel model for innovating with users, which clarifies the interrelations between co-creation, networks and brokering. In addition to its academic contributions, this study provides practical offerings for advancing the role of users in innovation activities.
Kokoelmat
- Väitöskirjat [1110]