The Global Kitchen

Purpose and goal

The project has tested a virtual method for lead-user innovation by using a mobile application and a collaborative software platform for ideation with involvement of lead-users. The method is tested in the kitchen industry with regards to three issues: - Challenges in the kitchen - Solutions from lead-users - Ideas from users and lead-users In the original project proposal the objective was to recruit 50 lead-users and get up to 150 inputs and ideas for new kitchen solutions. That changed after the VINNOVA-workshop and recommendation from Eric von Hippel to 10 lead-users and 50 inputs

Results and expected effects

More than 50 lead-users were identified and recruited for participation Of those participated 16 lead-users with 53 inputs and ideas. As such the experiment has fullfilled one of the objectives: The method is feasible as a idea capture method. It took longer time to identify and recruit lead-users than expected as well as getting capturing inputs from them. We have not yet succeeded in maturing selected ideas into concepts. That is planned to take place at a workshop in Dec ´13 in cooperation with product developing prog. at MaH, whereas we also expect to have new kitchen concepts as effect.

Approach and implementation

1. Recruitment of lead-users The method was changed as the kitchen company would not participate due to time reasons. We recruited lead-users through facebook, linkedin, internet research and network. 2. Test of mobile app. The mobile app. was set-up with the kitchen project and lead-users were invited and contributed with 53 inputs and ideas. 3. Test of collaborative ideation web platform We are currently analysing inputs and ideas on the platform and expect to have an ideation workshop in December 2013. 4. Evaluation and lessons learned. Done, though with final lessons in December.