Research on the impact of leading users' ideas on their identification of entrepreneurship opportunities

Abstract

Abstract: With the rise of digital technology, users have gradually transformed from passive recipients of products or services to product providers. According to this background, leading users are most likely to become entrepreneurs due to the characteristics of leading market trends and high expected returns. Furthermore, entrepreneurial activities carried out by leading users are of great significance to release social entrepreneurship and promote the implementation of innovation-driven development strategy. However, in practice, there are still few leading users who successfully convert into entrepreneurs. The reason is that the ideas generated by the leading users have not been effectively converted into entrepreneurial opportunities. Therefore, it is of great theoretical significance and practical value to explore how the ideas of leading users affects their identification of entrepreneurial opportunities. Based on the reality of user entrepreneurship under digital technology, this paper constructed a relationship model of leading user ideas, user entrepreneurial opportunity identification and participation in online innovation community. Using the sample data of 181 leading users in the Huawei product definition community, the hierarchical regression analysis is used to explore the mechanism of leading users' ideas affecting entrepreneurial opportunity identification, and reveal the moderating effect of the degree of leading users' participation in the community on the leading users' ideas and entrepreneurial opportunity identification. Based on theoretical and empirical research, the results show that there is an inverted U-shaped relationship between the number of ideas of leading users and entrepreneurial opportunity identification, and the breadth and depth of community participation strengthen the relationship. The quality of ideas of leading users actively promotes their identification of entrepreneurial opportunities, while the breadth of community participation weakens this relationship. The theoretical contributions of this paper are as follows. Firstly, existing studies tend to focus on the key influencing factors of leading users' creativity, while the results of ideas generation are still insufficient. Based on the active contribution behavior of leading users, this paper reveals the influence of leading users' ideas on entrepreneurial opportunities, and expands the research on the internal mechanism of leading users' entrepreneurship from the perspective of creativity. Secondly, this paper reveals the internal mechanism of the transformation from leading users to entrepreneurs, which makes up for the limitations of existing studies that focus solely on user innovation and user entrepreneurship, and provides a new research perspective for the research on innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Further, this study introduced the strength of social network relationship into the field of user entrepreneurship, providing a new theoretical explanation for the research on the relationship between user innovation and user entrepreneurship, and promoting the development of the theory of innovation-driven entrepreneurship. Finally, although previous studies have realized the role of online innovation community in the process of user entrepreneurship, they have not revealed how it plays a specific role in the process of user innovation to user entrepreneurship. This paper defines the role of "regulator" of online innovation community, reveals the situational role of online innovation community in the relationship between user ideas and entrepreneurial opportunity identification, and enriches the research literature on the interaction process of leading users in online innovation community.

摘要： 领先用户因具备领先市场趋势与高期望收益特征,最可能发展成为创业者。然而从实践来看，真正转化为创业者的领先用户仍然凤毛麟角，究其原因在于领先用户的创意向创业机会转化的过程并不顺畅，目前这一过程机理尚未得到深入揭示。以华为产品定义社区内181位领先用户为研究对象，通过实证分析检验领先用户的创意与创业机会识别的关系，以及领先用户参与在线创新社区程度在其中发挥的调节作用。结果显示：领先用户的创意数量与创业机会识别呈现倒u型关系，参与社区的广度和深度强化了上述关系。领先用户的创意质量积极促进其识别创业机会，参与社区的广度弱化了上述关系。研究结论丰富了用户创业的相关研究，揭示了领先用户创意的理论价值，有助于指导领先用户更好地开展创业实践。

尹苗苗刘鑫怡冯心莹. 领先用户的创意对其识别创业机会的影响研究[J]. 科学学研究, 2024, 42(5): 1053-1063.

References

[1] 刘倩，孙宝文．COI社区在线交互对用户创意质量的影响——专业成功经验的调节效应．南开管理评论，2018，21（02）：16－27＋42． [2] 任声策，翟珈玉，许晖．用户社区视角下的用户创新研究．科技管理研究，2018，38（10）：14－22． [3] 孙永波，孙珲，丁沂昕．资源“巧”配与创业机会识别——基于资源编排理论．科技进步与对策，2021，38（02）：19－28． [4] 王楠，陈详详，孙百惠，陈劲．谁的创意更具价值——内外部领先用户的对比研究．南开管理评论，2021，24（05）：51－62＋72＋63－64． [5] 王楠，张士凯，赵雨柔，陈劲．在线社区中领先用户特征对知识共享水平的影响研究——社会资本的中介作用．管理评论，2019，31（02）：82－93．DOI:10.14120/j.cnki.cn11-5057/f.2019.02.010. [6] 杨光，汪立．思维定势如何影响创意质量——基于“众包”平台的实证研究．管理世界，2017（12）：109－124＋157＋188．DOI:10.19744/j.cnki.11-1235/f.2017.12.012. [7] 朱桂龙，温敏瑢，王萧萧．从创意产生到创意采纳：员工创意过程分析框架构建．外国经济与管理，2021，43（04）：123－135．DOI:10.16538/j.cnki.fem.20201029.401. [8] Autio, E., Dahlander, L., Frederiksen, L.. Information Exposure, Opportunity Evaluation, and Entrepreneurial Action: An Investigation of An Online User Community. the Academy of Management Journal, 2013, 56(5): 1348-1371. [9] Bayus, B. L.. Crowdsourcing New Product Ideas over Time: An Analysis of the Dell IdeaStorm Community. Management Science, 2013, 59(1): 226-44. [10] Brem, A., Bilgram, V., Gutstein, A.. Involving Lead Users in Innovation: A Structured Summary of Research on the Lead User Method. International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management, 2018, 15(3). [11] Brem, A., Bilgram, V., Marchuk, A.. How Crowdfunding Platforms Change the Nature of User Innovation – from Problem Solving to Entrepreneurship. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 2019, 144: 348-360. [12] Ceptureanu, S. I., Ceptureanu, E. G., Cristescu, M. P., et al. Analysis of Social Media Impact on Opportunity Recognition. A Social Networks and Entrepreneurial Alertness Mixed Approach. Entropy, 2020, 22(3): 343. [13] Chu, K. M., Chan, H. C.. Community Based Innovation: Its Antecedents and Its Impact on Innovation Success. Internet Research, 2009, 19(5): 496-516. [14] Clausen, T. H.. Entrepreneurial Thinking and Action in Opportunity Development: A Conceptual Process Model. International Small Business Journal, 2020, 38(1): 21-40. [15] Deichmann, D., Moser, C., van den Ende J.. Talk, Talk, Talk: Exploring Idea Conversations and the Micro-Level Foundations of Knowledge Sharing for Innovation. Innovation (North Sydney), 2021, 23(3): 287-313. [16] Fang, E., Palmatier, R. W., Evans, K. R.. Influence of Customer Participation on Creating and Sharing of New Product Value. Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science, 2008, 36 (3): 322-336. [17] Franke, N., Shah, S. K.. How Communities Support Innovative Activities: An Exploration of As-Sistance and Sharing among End-Users. Research Policy, 2003, 32(1): 157-178. [18] Ge, B., Wang, Q., Yao, M.. From Ideas to Entrepreneurial Opportunity: A Study on AI. Systems Research and Behavioral Science, 2022, 39(3): 618-632. [19] Hienerth, C., Keinz, P., Lettl C.. Exploring the Nature and Implementation Process of User-Centric Business Models. Long Range Planning, 2011, 44(5): 344-374. [20] Kier, A. S., McMullen, J. S.. Entrepreneurial Imaginativeness and New Venture Ideation in Newly Forming Teams. Journal of Business Venturing, 2020, 35(6): 106048. [21] Kirzner, I. M.. Entrepreneurial Discovery and the Competitive Market Process: An Austrian Approach. Journal of Economic Literature, 1997, 35(1): 60-85. [22] Kobarg, S., Stumpf-Wollersheim, J., Welpe, I. M.. More Is Not Always Better: Effects of Collaboration Breadth and Depth on Radical and Incremental Innovation Performance at the Project Level. Research Policy, 2019, 48(1): 1-10. [23] Kratzer, J., Lettl, C.. A Social Network Perspective of Lead Users and Creativity: An Empirical Study among Children. Creativity and Innovation Management, 2008, 17(1): 26-36. [24] Lettl, C., Hienerth, C., Gemuenden, H. G.. Exploring How Lead Users Develop Radical Innovation: Opportunity Recognition and Exploitation in the Field of Medical Equipment Technology. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 2008, 55(2): 219-233. [25] Li, M., Kankanhalli, A., Kim, S. H.. Which Ideas Are more Likely to Be Implemented in Online User Innovation Communities? An Empirical Analysis. Decision Support Systems, 2016, 84: 28-40. [26] Magnusson, P. R.. Exploring the Contributions of Involving Ordinary Users in Ideatitoon of Technology-Based Services. Journal of Product Innovation Management, 2009, 578–593. [27] Mahr, D., Lievens, A.. Virtual Lead User Communities: Drivers of Knowledge Creation for Innovation. Research Policy, 2012, 41(1): 167-177. [28] Mannucci, P. V., Yong, K.. The Differential Impact of Knowledge Depth and Knowledge Breadth on Creativity over Individual Careers. Academy of Management Journal, 2018, 61(5): 1741-1763. [29] Oo, P. P., Allison, T. H., Sahaym, A., Juasrikul, S.. User Entrepreneurs' Multiple Identities and Crowdfunding Performance: Effects through Product Innovativeness, Perceived Passion, and Need Similarity. Journal of Business Venturing, 2018, 34(5): 105895. [30] Perry-Smith, J. E., Mannucci, P. V.. From Creativity to Innovation: The Social Network Drivers of the Four Phases of the Idea Journey. The Academy of Management Review, 2017, 42(1): 53-79. [31] Prandelli, E., Pasquini, M., Verona G.. In User＇s Shoes: An Experimental Design on the Role of Perspective Taking in Discovering Entrepreneurial Opportunities. Journal of Business Venturing, 2016, 31(3): 287-301. [32] Reinig, B.A., Briggs, R. O.. On the Relationship Between Idea-Quantity and Idea-Quality During Ideation. Group Decision and Negotiation, 2008, 17(5): 403-420. [33] Rhee, L., Leonardi, P. M.. Which Pathway to Good Ideas? An Attention‐Based View of Innovation in Social Networks. Strategic Management Journal, 2018, 39(4): 1188-1215. [34] Schweisfurth, T.. Comparing Internal and External Lead Users as Sources of Innovation. Research Policy, 2017, 46(1): 238-248. [35] Schweisfurth, T.G., Dharmawan, M. P.. Does Lead Userness Foster Idea Implementation and Diffusion? A Study of Internal Shopfloor Users. Research Policy, 2019, 48(1): 289-297. [36] Shah, S., Tripsas, M.. When do User Innovators Start Firms? A Theory of User Entrepreneurship. Social Science Electronic Publishing, 2012. [37] Shane, S. A., Venkataraman, S.. The Promise of Entrepreneurship as a Field of Research. Academy of Management Review, 2000, 25（1）: 217-226. [38] Shepherd, D. A., Sattari, R., Patzelt, H.. A Social Model of Opportunity Development: Building and Engaging Communities of Inquiry. Journal of Business Venturing, 2022, 37 (1): 106033. [39] Shiau, W. L., Dwivedi, Y. K., Yang, H. S.. Co-citation and Cluster Analyses of Extant Literature on Social Networks. International Journal of Information Management, 2017, 37(5):390-399. [40] Sirmon, D. G., Hitt, M. A., Ireland, R. D.. Managing Firm Resources in Dynamic Environments to Create Value: Looking inside the Black Box. The Academy of Management review, 2007, 32(1): 273-292. [41] Tottie, M., Lager, T., Nordqvist, S.. From Customer Understanding to Product Understanding: Collaboration with Industrial Lead Users in a B2B Context. Journal of Business Chemistry, 2016, 13(2): 64-79 [42] Von Hippel, E.. Democratizing Innovation: The Evolving Phenomenon of User Innovation. Journal Fur Betriebswirtschaft, 1986, 55(1): 63-78. [43] Wang, Y., Qi, G.. Sustainable Knowledge Contribution in Open Innovation Platforms: An Absorptive Capacity Perspective on Network Effects. Sustainability (Basel, Switzerland). 2022, 14(11):6536. [44] Zahra, S. A., Nambisan, S.. Entrepreneurship in Global Innovation Ecosystems. Association Management System Review, 2011, 1(1): 4-17. [45] Zhang, C., Hahn, J., De, P.. Continued Participation in Online Innovation Communities: Does Community Response Matter Equally for Everyone?. Information Systems Research, 2013, 24(4): 1112-1130. [46] Zhang, C., Song, P., Qu, Z., Xue, L., Li, J.. Firm Actions, User Engagement, and Firm Performance: A Mediated Model with Evidences from Internet Service Firms. Information & Management, 2020, 57(7): 103364. [47] Zhou, J., Shalley, C. E.. Deepening Our Understanding of Creativity in the Workplace: A Review of Different Approaches to Creativity Research. APA Handbook of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2010, 1: 275-302. [48] Zhou, T.. Understanding Online Knowledge Community User Continuance: A Social Cognitive Theory Perspective. Data Technologies and Applications, 2018, 52(3): 445-458. [49] Kier, A. S., McMullen, J. S.. Entrepreneurial Imaginativeness and New Venture Ideation in Newly Forming Teams. Journal of Business Venturing, 2020, 35(6): 106048. [50] Ma, J., Lu, Y., Gupta, S.. User Innovation Evaluation: Empirical Evidence from An Online Game Community. Decision support systems, 2019, 117:113-23. [51] Schuhmacher, M. C., Kuester, S.. Identification of Lead User Characteristics Driving the Quality of Service Innovation Ideas. Creativity & Innovation Management, 2012, 21(4): 427-442.