Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the transferability of the open source principles of product development from the realm of software to the realm of physical products. Design/methodology/approach – Based on the inherent differences between software and physical products,...

While most of the literature views users and producers as organizationally distinct, this paper studies users within producer firms. We define “embedded lead users” (ELUs) as employees who are lead users of their employing firm's products or services. We argue that ELUs benefit from dual...

A large, and purportedly increasing, number of research fields in modern science require scholars from more than one discipline to understand their puzzling phenomena. In response, many scholars argue that scientific work needs to become more interdisciplinary, and is indeed becoming so. This...

Users have proven to be a principal driving force of many innovations in different industries. Therefore, more and more firms try to identify avenues to systematically involve users into their new product development. Despite the growing interest in user-driven or user-centred innovation, both...

Online communities (OCs), especially those related to particular products or brands, have become a potent means of identifying user needs and solution ideas, thereby supporting companies to innovate. Despite their growing relevance, user innovation activities within consumer OCs still are...

Einführung in das Thema -- Aktuelle Patentausläufe und die an ihnen beteiligten Unternehmen -- Theoretische und empirische Grundlagen -- Der Produktlebenszyklus von Arzneimitteln -- Die Rolle von Patenten in der pharmazeutischen Industrie -- Auswirkungen von Patentausläufen in der...