Article: Contextualised co-creation: innovating with individual external contributors throughout the product life cycle Journal: International Journal of Product Development (IJPD) 2017 Vol.22 No.3 pp.230 - 245 Abstract: A co-creation strategy for product innovation ought to be customised for the specific context in which it is to be implemented. Despite the obvious common-sense appeal of this idea, the context-dependent character of co-creation has not yet been clearly recognised and analysed in the pertinent literature. We address this intellectual gap by positing the concept of 'contextualised co-creation'. By focusing on the evolving opportunities for product innovation, and related extant conditions and potential risks, we see the early and the latter stages of the product life cycle as distinct contexts for co-creation. For each respective context our concept suggests what type of actors may be involved as co-creators in product innovation projects, which type of co-creation may be appropriate, and how a suitable co-creative setting may be developed. Our contextualised co-creation concept may be applied by companies as a rubric for strategic decision-making related to collaborative innovation with individual external contributors in product development projects. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Contextualised co-creation: innovating with individual external contributors throughout the product life cycle

Authors: Anja Tekic; Kelvin W. Willoughby

Addresses: Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Innovation and Intellectual Property Laboratory, 3 Nobel Street, Skolkovo, Innovation Center, Moscow 143026, Russia ' Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Innovation and Intellectual Property Laboratory, 3 Nobel Street, Skolkovo, Innovation Center, Moscow 143026, Russia

Abstract: A co-creation strategy for product innovation ought to be customised for the specific context in which it is to be implemented. Despite the obvious common-sense appeal of this idea, the context-dependent character of co-creation has not yet been clearly recognised and analysed in the pertinent literature. We address this intellectual gap by positing the concept of 'contextualised co-creation'. By focusing on the evolving opportunities for product innovation, and related extant conditions and potential risks, we see the early and the latter stages of the product life cycle as distinct contexts for co-creation. For each respective context our concept suggests what type of actors may be involved as co-creators in product innovation projects, which type of co-creation may be appropriate, and how a suitable co-creative setting may be developed. Our contextualised co-creation concept may be applied by companies as a rubric for strategic decision-making related to collaborative innovation with individual external contributors in product development projects.

Keywords: contextualised co-creation; collaborative innovation; product life cycle; innovation context; product innovation; individual external contributors; innovation management; strategic management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPD.2017.087380

International Journal of Product Development, 2017 Vol.22 No.3, pp.230 - 245

Received: 08 Feb 2017
Accepted: 22 Aug 2017
Published online: 13 Oct 2017 *

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Title: Contextualised co-creation: innovating with individual external contributors throughout the product life cycle

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