This study shows that besides the Lead User approach there are other relevant modes of customer integration into the innovation front-end. From a strategic perspective, manufacturers' goals and objectives and their influence on the management of a specific mode are described. We therefore look at roles customers can be assigned to and - closely connected - to contributions they will deliver. Our findings lead to a typology and corresponding managerial implications for customer integration, based on manufacturer's goals and customer's contributions.
Language
English
Keywords
Customer integration
innovation process
customer roles
customer contributions
lead user
HSG Classification
not classified
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Blackwell
Start page
8
Event Title
25th Annual Conference of the Strategic Management Society (SMS)