In a study of innovations developed by mountain bikers, we find that user-innovators almost always utilize “local” information– information already in their possession or generated by themselves – both to determine the need for and to develop the solutions for their innovations. We argue...

While sustainability issues increasingly gain importance for new product design, they also further complicate the NPD process. In many cases it is hard to exactly measure the socio-environmental impact of new products, and sustainability targets may conflict with other ones. Innovators can aim...

Within this paper we explore transition paths firms can take to become product service system (PSS) innovators. Applying the dynamic capability approach we study how three firms have developed PSS innovations in the mobility sector (Car2Go by Daimler AG, Connect by Hertz by The Hertz...

The importance of green innovation management is growing in practice and academia likewise. To our knowledge, a recent and comprehensive literature review is lacking. In this paper we contribute to a clarification of the concept “green innovation” and provide an overview of the existing body...

This paper investigates the relationship of patenting and economic success, measured in sales revenues, of eight leading manufacturers of flat panel displays. Our results from a correlation analysis prove a strong relation for a time lag between annual patent applications and sales revenues...

Germany and Japan have particularly been affected by a rapid demographic change. The accelerated development of an aging and shrinking population has caused many changes, for instance, in customer needs and demands. These affect the value creation in both B2C and B2B markets, consequently...

To increase and speed up diffusion of new product introductions firms may rely on network marketing. They select individuals in customer and user networks whose own product adoptions and opinions influence adoption decisions of others in the network. In this paper we transfer this rationale to...

Innovative, distinct products and no “cheaper” copies of the “rich” world are essential in order to succeed at the “Base of the Pyramid” (BoP). However, this type of innovation requires more, in-depth information on the BoP and solution spaces, which are both difficult to access....

This paper presents a literature review discussing empirical as well as conceptual papers concerning the CTO – the Chief Technology Officer – his tasks, responsibilities and authority and his relations with other corporate functions. It further presents first results of a CTO survey...