The Underestimation of User Innovation: Extent, Reasons, and Consequences

In this project, we investigate whether key decision makers like managers, public administrators etc. underestimate the value of user innovation. We measure their estimations regarding the value of user innovations and compare... [ view full abstract ]

In this project, we investigate whether key decision makers like managers, public administrators etc. underestimate the value of user innovation. We measure their estimations regarding the value of user innovations and compare them with true values we obtained from extant research. Knowledge about the existence and extent of underestimation of user innovation is important, as it points to a perceptual bias with potentially critical consequences, namely resource misallocations regarding innovation. In a second step, we explore reasons for this systematically distorted perception. Generally, they can be grouped in the flow of objective information on user innovation and/or how individuals form beliefs about the importance of user innovation on this basis.