User-Driven Innovation in Poland: Determinants and Recommendations

Katarzyna Szopik-Depczyńska,Iwona Bąk,Katarzyna Cheba,Giuseppe Ioppolo

doi:10.3390/su12010171

Abstract

For many years different scientists have published the results of research related to the usage of UDI (user-driven innovation) concept and its impact on innovation activity of enterprises. None of them, however, concerned the relationship between various determinants for developing the R&D (Research and Development) sphere. It is the reason why the main purpose of the study is to present the empirical evidence in finding the determinants for usage of “user-driven innovation” concept (UDI). The work focuses on using this concept in R&D departments, which are very often responsible for introducing this kind of innovation in a firm’s practice. The use of the UDI concept in R&D in the enterprise will be influenced by various factors which, in the literature, are divided into external, independent of the enterprise; and internal, which can be a result of adopted strategies, action plans and/or operating standards. The implementation of UDI in enterprises gives a number of benefits resulting from interaction with the environment, but also encounters barriers and internal problems that need to be neutralized. It is why, in this paper, the internal factors will be considered. To present the relationship between the selected variables, the correspondence analysis which constitutes one of the methods for multidimensional statistical analysis, was applied. The results presented in the paper allowed to formulate several important conclusions about the potential level of implementation of UDI concept in R&D departments in Poland. Firstly, it should be noted that in Poland, the UDI concept is still seen as new. This is why there are no scientific publications on this topic, as well as a lack of system solutions and strategic documents encouraging entrepreneurs to conduct research and development activity based on contacts with users. That is why authors have made some recommendations regarding the promotion of activities related to the use of UDI in research and development processes. Our research supplements the current knowledge in the field of internal conditions affecting the implementation of the UDI concept in enterprises which are starting to implement this concept.

Highlights

One of the main areas, currently underlined in the relevant literature, which is a specific form of open innovation theory, is the cooperation with users in the area of creating new or improved products
Considering above, the main purpose of this study is to present the empirical evidence in finding the determinants for the usage of the “user-driven innovation” concept (UDI)
The added value of the analysis presented in the paper are the study of the relationships between any internal factors affecting the application of the UDI concept in the R&D sphere in Polish firms

Summary

Introduction

One of the main areas, currently underlined in the relevant literature, which is a specific form of open innovation theory, is the cooperation with users in the area of creating new or improved products. The lead user was in the scope of interest of von Hippel, already at the end of the 1980s, who formulated the terms: “active customer paradigm” or “lead user”. He developed a new concept of innovation, arguing that users are just as important or even more important than producers, and the sources of innovation should be found in modern societies [1]. For small and medium-sized enterprises, high risk and financial investments are the main obstacles to the development of R&D activity [3]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion