Visualizing Invisible Innovation Continent: Evidence from Global Consumer Innovation Surveys

Abstract

A number of researches on user innovation have demonstrated the importance of users in the innovation process. Even though it has been proved that users are a source of idea and can increase the probability of success for manufacturers; only a few of manufacturers actively realize the importance of users’ product development. This research aims to investigate and visualize consumers’ innovation. We conduct an online survey in two countries - United States, and Japan, then compare the result with the previous research in the United Kingdom. As a result, we found a significant number of consumers creating their own products or modifying existing products in all three countries, and that a substantial amount of money and time was invested in this. However, only an extremely small number of product innovations were adopted by enterprises as potential products. For manufacturers, we suggest that they should regard users’ creative activities and collaborate more with users, especially in a community level; or they may take effort in working with creative consumers. For policymakers or organizations concerned, it is significant that similar surveys should be conducted in both developed and developing countries in order to understand consumers’ activities and abilities better. We have attached the questionnaire used in the U.S. for reference.

Keywords: User innovation, Intellectual property, National innovation survey, Consumer