TY - CHAP TI - Lead users and the organization AB - Lead user research has branched out into many different research streams. In this paper I take an organizational view and differentiate three different perspectives which historically emerged in this sequence. First, lead users as external creators of ideas for focal firms. Second, lead users as creators of organizations. Third, lead users as internal creators of ideas for focal firms. I elaborate on opportunities for further research in each of these perspectives. As becomes apparent, Cornelius Herstatt has been a pioneer researcher in each of these perspectives and a significant source of inspiration for his students. AF - Managing Innovation in a Global and Digital World. Meeting Societal Challenges and Enhancing Competitiveness PP - Wiesbaden SN - 978-3-658-27240-1 PB - Springer Gabler SP - 111 EP - 119 UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-27241-8_8 PY - 2020-01-01 AU - Lettl, Christopher ER -