IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/annopr/v300y2021i2d10.1007_s10479-021-03953-0.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Identifying lead users in online user innovation communities based on supernetwork

Author

Listed:
  • Xiao Liao

    (Guangdong University of Finance)

  • Guangyu Ye

    (South China University of Technology)

  • Juan Yu

    (Fuzhou University)

  • Yunjiang Xi

    (South China University of Technology)

Abstract

Lead users are the group of most valuable users in product innovation and new product development for a certain firm. Based on web mining methods on user innovation communities, this paper presents quantitative methodology to evaluate the contributions and values of online community users to identify lead users. Firstly, we analyze user behaviors and calculate the user interest index (UII) of posts, keywords and innovation fields to measure the popularity of innovations based on other users' focus. Secondly, the model of User Innovation Knowledge supernetwork (UIKSN) is proposed, in which UIIs and user contributions are considered as two types of node weights for integrating behavior data and content data. And then, rules and methods are suggested based on the UIKSN model for identifying lead users to meet various requirements including contributions and UIIs in posts, keywords, hot frontiers, core innovation fields, and even in certain fields or knowledge points. Furthermore, knowledge structures are analyzed through ego-network analysis. Case studies show that the proposed UIKSN model and methodology are more objective and credible and thus have good potentials for identifying and analyzing lead users from multiple levels, such as posts, keywords, hot front, core innovation fields, etc.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiao Liao & Guangyu Ye & Juan Yu & Yunjiang Xi, 2021. "Identifying lead users in online user innovation communities based on supernetwork," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 300(2), pages 515-543, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:annopr:v:300:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s10479-021-03953-0
    DOI: 10.1007/s10479-021-03953-0
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10479-021-03953-0
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10479-021-03953-0?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Morrison, Pamela D. & Roberts, John H. & Midgley, David F., 2004. "The nature of lead users and measurement of leading edge status," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 351-362, March.
    2. Eric von Hippel, 1986. "Lead Users: A Source of Novel Product Concepts," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(7), pages 791-805, July.
    3. Volker Bilgram & Alexander Brem & Kai-Ingo Voigt, 2019. "User-centric Innovations in New Product Development — Systematic Identification of Lead Users Harnessing Interactive and Collaborative Online-tools," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Alexander Brem & Joe Tidd & Tugrul Daim (ed.), Managing Innovation Understanding and Motivating Crowds, chapter 7, pages 173-212, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    4. Volpentesta, Antonio P., 2008. "Hypernetworks in a directed hypergraph," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 188(2), pages 390-405, July.
    5. Zhipeng Zhang & Yasuo Kudo & Tetsuya Murai, 2017. "Neighbor selection for user-based collaborative filtering using covering-based rough sets," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 256(2), pages 359-374, September.
    6. Gitakrishnan Ramadurai & Satish Ukkusuri, 2010. "Dynamic User Equilibrium Model for Combined Activity-Travel Choices Using Activity-Travel Supernetwork Representation," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 10(2), pages 273-292, June.
    7. Fuller, Johann & Jawecki, Gregor & Muhlbacher, Hans, 2007. "Innovation creation by online basketball communities," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 60(1), pages 60-71, January.
    8. Estrada, Ernesto & Rodríguez-Velázquez, Juan A., 2006. "Subgraph centrality and clustering in complex hyper-networks," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 364(C), pages 581-594.
    9. Jeppesen, Lars Bo & Laursen, Keld, 2009. "The role of lead users in knowledge sharing," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(10), pages 1582-1589, December.
    10. Ozer, Muammer, 2009. "The roles of product lead-users and product experts in new product evaluation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 1340-1349, October.
    11. Martin Schreier & Stefan Oberhauser & Reinhard Prügl, 2007. "Lead users and the adoption and diffusion of new products: Insights from two extreme sports communities," Marketing Letters, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 15-30, June.
    12. Glen L. Urban & Eric von Hippel, 1988. "Lead User Analyses for the Development of New Industrial Products," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 34(5), pages 569-582, May.
    13. Mahr, Dominik & Lievens, Annouk, 2012. "Virtual lead user communities: Drivers of knowledge creation for innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(1), pages 167-177.
    14. Wang, Jiang-Pan & Guo, Qiang & Yang, Guang-Yong & Liu, Jian-Guo, 2015. "Improved knowledge diffusion model based on the collaboration hypernetwork," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 428(C), pages 250-256.
    15. Armin A. Rad & Mohammad S. Jalali & Hazhir Rahmandad, 2018. "How exposure to different opinions impacts the life cycle of social media," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 268(1), pages 63-91, September.
    16. Zhang, Haihong & Wu, Wenqing & Zhao, Liming, 2016. "A study of knowledge supernetworks and network robustness in different business incubators," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 447(C), pages 545-560.
    17. Yang, Guang-Yong & Hu, Zhao-Long & Liu, Jian-Guo, 2015. "Knowledge diffusion in the collaboration hypernetwork," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 419(C), pages 429-436.
    18. Jan Kratzer & Christopher Lettl, 2009. "Distinctive Roles of Lead Users and Opinion Leaders in the Social Networks of Schoolchildren," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 36(4), pages 646-659, December.
    19. Toyasaki, Fuminori & Daniele, Patrizia & Wakolbinger, Tina, 2014. "A variational inequality formulation of equilibrium models for end-of-life products with nonlinear constraints," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 236(1), pages 340-350.
    20. Roy, Raja, 2018. "Role of relevant lead users of mainstream product in the emergence of disruptive innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 314-322.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alexander Brem & Volker Bilgram & Adele Gutstein, 2021. "Involving Lead Users in Innovation: A Structured Summary of Research on the Lead User Method," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Alexander Brem (ed.), Emerging Issues and Trends in INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT, chapter 2, pages 21-48, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    2. Markus Ernst & Alexander Brem, 2017. "Social Media for Identifying Lead Users? Insights into Lead Users’ Social Media Habits," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(04), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Schweisfurth, Tim G. & Dharmawan, Magha P., 2019. "Does lead userness foster idea implementation and diffusion? A study of internal shopfloor users," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(1), pages 289-297.
    4. Globocnik, Dietfried & Faullant, Rita, 2021. "Do lead users cooperate with manufacturers in innovation? Investigating the missing link between lead userness and cooperation initiation with manufacturers," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    5. Hurmelinna-Laukkanen, Pia & Nätti, Satu & Pikkarainen, Minna, 2021. "Orchestrating for lead user involvement in innovation networks," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    6. Wang, Nan & Xie, Wenxuan & Tiberius, Victor & Qiu, Yong, 2023. "Accelerating new product diffusion: How lead users serve as opinion leaders in social networks," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 72(C).
    7. Li Wang & Yuan Yang & Yishuai Li, 2021. "Extending lead-user theory to a virtual brand community: the roles of flow experience and trust," Asian Business & Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 20(5), pages 618-643, November.
    8. Schweisfurth, Tim G., 2017. "Comparing internal and external lead users as sources of innovation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(1), pages 238-248.
    9. Martinez-Torres, Rocio & Olmedilla, Maria, 2016. "Identification of innovation solvers in open innovation communities using swarm intelligence," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 15-24.
    10. Isabel Schmid & Janik Wörner & Susanne Leist, 2022. "Automated identification of different lead users regarding the innovation process," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 32(2), pages 945-970, June.
    11. Einar Svansson, 2018. "Social Entrepreneurs and Lead Users: The Case of the Blue Lagoon, Iceland," Revista Equidad y Desarrollo, Universidad de la Salle, issue 31, pages 95-110, June.
    12. Hau, Yong Sauk & Kang, Minhyung, 2016. "Extending lead user theory to users’ innovation-related knowledge sharing in the online user community: The mediating roles of social capital and perceived behavioral control," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 520-530.
    13. Zeng, Michael A., 2018. "Foresight by online communities – The case of renewable energies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 27-42.
    14. Nikolaus Franke & Peter Keinz & Katharina Klausberger, 2013. "“Does This Sound Like a Fair Deal?”: Antecedents and Consequences of Fairness Expectations in the Individual’s Decision to Participate in Firm Innovation," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(5), pages 1495-1516, October.
    15. Wu, Chia-huei & de Jong, Jeroen P.J. & Raasch, Christina & Poldervaart, Sabrine, 2020. "Work process-related lead userness as an antecedent of innovative behavior and user innovation in organizations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(6).
    16. Jahanmir, Sara F. & Cavadas, Joana, 2018. "Factors affecting late adoption of digital innovations," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 337-343.
    17. Mütterlein, Joschka & Kunz, Reinhard E. & Baier, Daniel, 2019. "Effects of lead-usership on the acceptance of media innovations: A mobile augmented reality case," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 113-124.
    18. van der Boor, Paul & Oliveira, Pedro & Veloso, Francisco, 2014. "Users as innovators in developing countries: The global sources of innovation and diffusion in mobile banking services," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(9), pages 1594-1607.
    19. G. Parmentier & Vincent Mangematin, 2014. "Orchestrating innovation with user communities in the creative industries," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) halshs-00848861, HAL.
    20. Parmentier, Guy & Mangematin, Vincent, 2014. "Orchestrating innovation with user communities in the creative industries," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 40-53.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:annopr:v:300:y:2021:i:2:d:10.1007_s10479-021-03953-0. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.