In this paper explores how the mundane but necessary task offield support for open source Apache server software is organized,and how and why users are motivated to participate in providing it.

3M correctly prides itself on being an innovative, technology-basedcompany, and they have an excellent track over the years with respect toinnovation ...

To solve a problem, needed information and problem-solving capabilities must be brought together... [Eric von Hippel]<p>

This paper integrates market research within this lead user methodology and report a test of it in the rapidly evolving field of computer-aided systems for the design of printed circuit boards (PC-CAD).

This paper studies the relationship between the sources ofinnovation and incentives.

"Informal" know-how trading is the extensive exchange of proprietaryknow-how by informal networks of process engineers in rival (and non-rival)firms ...

User needs for a given product type can be quite heterogeneous. Segmenting the market and providing solutions for average user needs in each segment is a partial answer that will typically leave many dissatisfied - some seriously so....

In a first survey of its type, we measure development and modification of consumer products by product users in a representative sample of 1,173 UK consumers age 18 and older. We estimate this previously unmeasured type of household sector innovation to be quite large: 6.1% of UK...