Digital Innovation, Entrepreneurship and New Business Models
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Paper Type
Short
Paper Number
2507
Description
Generativity is the emergence of novel uses for a product outside of the firm's intentions or control. While extant studies focus on product attributes that trigger generativity from third party complementors, we begin to theorize about the micro-foundations of generativity-in-use by users. We conceptualize generativity-in-use as the identification of a need-solution pair that meets the needs of users. We leverage theories on user innovation, design, and modularity to offer propositions around the interactions between the search triggers, typologies of generativity-in-use, and product modularity. As illustrative vignettes, we highlight some IKEA hacks, which involve the repurposing of IKEA products into forms and functions different than their original intended uses. We suggest that needs- triggered and solution triggered can lead to different forms of generativity-in-use and the role of modularity for helping to overcome functional fixedness. We discuss implications for the design of physical and digital products alike.
Recommended Citation
Chan, Tian Heong and Lim, Shi-Ying, "Understanding Generativity in Use: Triggers, and Search Paths in IKEA User Hacks" (2020). ICIS 2020 Proceedings. 17.
https://aisel.aisnet.org/icis2020/digital_innovation/digital_innovation/17
Understanding Generativity in Use: Triggers, and Search Paths in IKEA User Hacks
Generativity is the emergence of novel uses for a product outside of the firm's intentions or control. While extant studies focus on product attributes that trigger generativity from third party complementors, we begin to theorize about the micro-foundations of generativity-in-use by users. We conceptualize generativity-in-use as the identification of a need-solution pair that meets the needs of users. We leverage theories on user innovation, design, and modularity to offer propositions around the interactions between the search triggers, typologies of generativity-in-use, and product modularity. As illustrative vignettes, we highlight some IKEA hacks, which involve the repurposing of IKEA products into forms and functions different than their original intended uses. We suggest that needs- triggered and solution triggered can lead to different forms of generativity-in-use and the role of modularity for helping to overcome functional fixedness. We discuss implications for the design of physical and digital products alike.
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