How to Develop "Breakthrough" Products and Services

Bell curve showing lead users at the tip.

Because they need a solution sooner than most people, lead users have an incentive to create innovative products and services. (Image courtesy of Prof. Eric von Hippel and OCW.)

Instructor(s)

MIT Course Number

15.356

As Taught In

Spring 2004

Level

Graduate

Cite This Course

Course Description

Course Features

Course Highlights

15.356 offers videos of several course sessions, showing how this highly interactive class operates. The assignments page describes how students should approach writing their essays, which cover topics of their choosing.

Course Description

To prosper, firms must develop major product and service innovations. Often, though, they don't know how. Recent research into the innovation process has made it possible to develop "breakthroughs" systematically. 15.356 presents several practical concept development methods, such as the "Lead User Method," where manufacturers learn from innovative customers. Expert guest speakers present case studies that show the "art" required to implement a concept development method. 15.356 is a half-term subject.

Other Versions

Other OCW Versions

OCW has published multiple versions of this subject. Question_OVT logo

Related Content

Eric von Hippel. 15.356 How to Develop "Breakthrough" Products and Services. Spring 2004. Massachusetts Institute of Technology: MIT OpenCourseWare, https://ocw.mit.edu. License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA.


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