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About

Christopher Lettl is a leading scholar in innovation management, with a primary focus on radical innovation, user-driven innovation, and the strategic role of user involvement in technology-intensive industries. His seminal work, “User involvement competence for radical innovation” (2007, 310 citations), established a foundational framework for understanding how firms can systematically integrate users into the development of breakthrough products. Lettl’s research demonstrates that users are not merely passive recipients but can act as inventors and co-developers of radical innovations, particularly in fields such as medical technology. His multiple case studies, including “Users as Inventors and Developers of Radical Innovation” (2005), reveal critical user characteristics—such as deep domain expertise and high motivation—that enable them to contribute to highly complex, market-shifting technologies. By challenging the conventional wisdom that users are only useful for incremental improvements, Lettl has reshaped how companies approach open innovation and new product development. His work remains highly influential among both academics and practitioners seeking to leverage external knowledge for sustained competitive advantage.