the sources of innovation E Von Hippel (tous droits réservés)

1 Overview

The Functional Source of Innovation 3

Variations in the Source of Innovation 4

An Economic Explanation

5

Understanding the Distributed Innovation Process:

Know-how Trading Between Rivals

5

Managing the Distributed Innovation Process: Predicting and

Shifting the Sources of Innovation 6

Implications for Innovation Research 7

Implications for Innovation Management 8

Implications for Innovation Policy 9

2 Users as Innovators 11

The Sources of Scientific Instrument Innovations 11

The Sources of Semiconductor and Printed Circuit Board

Assembly Process Innovations 19

The User-Dominated Innovation Process 25

3 Variations in the Functional Source of Innovation

4 The Functional Source of Innovation as an Economic

Phenomenon 43

The Hypothesis 43

Necessary Preconditions 44

Patents and Licensing 47

Trade Secrets and Licensing 54

5 Testing the Relationship Between the Functional Source

of Innovation and Expected Innovation Rents 57

Five Empirical Tests 57

Pultrusion Process Machinery: Innovation and Innovation Rents 60

The Tractor Shovel: Innovation and Innovation Rents 63

Engineering Plastics: Innovation and Innovation Rents 66

Process Equipment Utilizing Industrial Gases and Thermoplastics:

Innovation and Innovation Rents 68

Conclusions and Discussion 70

6 Cooperation Between Rivals: The Informal Trading

of Technical Know-how 76

Informal Know-how Trading 76

Case Study: Informal Trading of Proprietary Process Know-how

Between U.S. Steel Minimill Producers 77

An Economic Explanation for Know-how Trading 85

Informal Know-how Trading in Context 88

Discussion 90

7 Shifting the Functional Source of Innovation 93

Nature of the Test 93

The Test 95

Commercial Value of User-Developed Innovations 96

Summary 99

8 Predicting the Source of Innovation: Lead Users 102

Root of the Problem: Marketing Research Constrained by

User Experience 102

Lead Users as a Solution 106

Testing the Method 108

Discussion 115

9 Epilogue: Applications for Innovation Management 117

Identifying an Innovation Process Role 117

Organizing for an Innovation Process Role 118

The Distributed Innovation Process as a System 120

x

Contents

References

Appendix: Innovation Histories

Introduction

Data Set for

Data Set for

Data Set for

Data Set for

Data Set for

Data Set for

Scientific Instrument- Innovations

Semiconductor Process Innovations

Pultrusion Process Machinery Innovations

the Tractor Shovel

Engineering Plastics

Plastics Additives

Index

Contents

12 3

131

131

133

163

182

188

195

199

209

xi28

Users as Innovators: Pultrusion 28

Manufacturers as Innovators: The Tractor Shovel 30

Manufacturers as Innovators: Engineering Thermoplastics 32

Manufacturers as Innovators: Plastics Additives 34

Suppliers as Innovators 35

Supplier/Manufacturers as Innovators:

Wire Termination Equipment 36

Suppliers as Innovators: Process Equipment Utilizing

Industrial Gases and Thermoplastics 38

Additional Evidence on Nonmanufacturer Innovation 40

3