Asking the Best Users

Prototyping and test marketing let you observe users'  reactions to new ideas

Focus groups identify users and their interests as an input to innovation design, and later, as a sounding board.  Prototyping and test marketing let you observe users'  reactions to new ideas, and allow them to add their own.

Lead-user methods help you identify early adopters among your user base, to help shape your idea while you develop it.  Finally, communities of practice are small, often volunteer, groups of uses that use innovation solutions on a continuing basis, such as the Linux community, music software groups like Propellerhead, and Apple's i-platform devices group. 

ACTION POINT:  Get input and feedback from a variety of sources.