Research on Lead User by Participatory Approach : the Japanese Case

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This research attempts to illustrate whether or not the lead user innovation has emerged in the Japanese industries. First, through intensive information gathering, we find the Japanese firms haven't systematically adopted the "lead user" approach advocated by Prof. von Hippel of MIT. Second, through the preliminary research, we chose to take the framework of Prof. Ogawa of Kobe University focusing on innovation process of new services triggered by introduced information technologies. We observe the roles played by IT providers, final users and service providers respectively and attempts to measure contributions of each innovation participants. Through our survey on emerging E learning business in US and Japan, we find that (i) Japanese firms haven't realized strategic importance of lead users and (ii) firms are potentially equipped with ability to learn from lead users. The ensuing research has become indispensable for realizing "lead user" strategy in the Japanese firms.