Innovation relationship between open

ME is consistent with the slow convergence of transportation and other energy systems. The studies into ME considered household market segments, and found that only about 4 million out of 34 million California residents would most likely be able to adopt ME-enabled FCVs. There does appear to be a trade-off relationship between ME-power and driving range, as well as similar give-and-take situations within the supply framework. However, as questions arise over BEVs, market forces may well be opening the door for ME innovation in the FCV sector (Williams and Kurani, 2006,2007). 

The relationship between internal users and external users also leaves other open questions. A limitation of the studies carried out in this dissertation is that I onty took the perspective of embedded lead users and R D managers into account Thus it remains unclear, how embedded lead users and their activities are perceived by external [lead] users. On the one hand, embedded lead users are users themselves. Thus they are more likely to have credibility among external users. They have direct access to corporate knowledge and networks and are at the source of corporate innovation. As such, they are likely to be regarded as credible knowledge bearers with respect to innovation and new trends. On the other hand, external users, if they know about the corporate affiliation of embedded lead users, are likely to perceive a certain bias in the opinions and shared knowledge of embedded lead users. Firm loyalty of embedded lead users may result in information as3nnmetry to other users, which is reflected in subjective referral of firm products, or unjustified excoriation of competitor s products. 

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