Horizontal Innovation Networks by and for Users

Posted: 22 Jun 2008

See all articles by Eric A. von Hippel

Eric A. von Hippel

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Sloan School of Management

Date Written: April 2007

Abstract

Innovation development, production, distribution and consumption networks can be built up horizontally with actors consisting only of innovation users (more precisely, user/self-manufacturers ). Some open source software projects are examples of such networks, and examples can be found in the case of physical products as well. In this article, we discuss three conditions under which user innovation networks can function entirely independently of manufacturers. We then explore related empirical evidence, and conclude that conditions favorable to horizontal user innovation networks are often present in the economy.

Suggested Citation

von Hippel, Eric, Horizontal Innovation Networks by and for Users (April 2007). Industrial and Corporate Change, Vol. 16, Issue 2, pp. 293-315, 2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1149215 or http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icc/dtm005

Eric Von Hippel (Contact Author)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Sloan School of Management ( email )

E62-455
Cambridge, MA 02142
United States
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617-253-2660 (Fax)

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