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Chapters 2 and 3 provided an overview on the current state of research on the SiMa and user innovation. Both phenomena are currently intensively studied but are not yet comprehensively understood.

The following chapter presents the chosen research strategy for the quantitative study among camping and caravanning tourists. First, structural equation modeling is described as the statistical procedure for data analysis (chapter 7.1.1). Then the theoretical constructs are operationalized and transformed into concrete items (chapter 7.1.2). Finally, the process for the collection (chapter 7.1.3), cleansing, and preparation (chapter 7.1.4) of the data is explained.

The number of humans living on Earth has been constantly increasing. While the global human population did not reach 1 billion until the beginning of the 19th century, it has been growing rapidly ever since. The population reached two billion in 1927 (123 years later), 3 billion in 1960 (33 years later), and 4 billion in 1974 (14 years later). Since then an additional billion has been added approximately every 12 to 14 years, culminating in over 7 billion people today.

For thousands of years, humans have been sleeping outdoors in tents or temporary facilities. Our ancestors have lived in self-made tents, and many nomadic tribes (particularly in Central Asia) still continue to do so today. Modern camping is much younger and its roots date back to the late 19th century. As will be detailed in the following chapter, many major steps in the development of camping and caravanning, as well as camping itself, are based on user innovations.

This chapter relates the findings of this study to existing research and highlights the study’s contributions to and implications upon academic research. This is followed by recommendations for managers and practitioners to implement the findings into concrete actions. Even though the research was carried out with the due thoroughness and meticulousness, there are some limitations to the study, which must be highlighted. Lastly, ideas for further research are suggested.

Germany and Japan have particularly been affected by a rapid demographic change. The accelerated development of an aging and shrinking population has caused many changes, for instance, in customer needs and demands. These affect the value creation in both B2C and B2B markets, consequently offering opportunities to develop age-based products and service innovations in emerging lead markets. In this context, this research project aims to foster our understanding of innovation and product and service development for aging populations. To this end, we combine the expertise of four management institutes at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), and a wide range of research methods, such as structural equation modeling, social network analysis, and agent-based simulation. Our results and experiences will form the basis for a grounded, full application for the funding of an international research training group (IRTG), ideally from the German Science Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) in cooperation with a leading Japanese university (Tokyo Institute of Technology). In addition, we will disseminate the results of this research via workshops, conferences, dissertations, and contributions to highly ranked journals.

The existing research on the behaviour of user innovators has focused almost exclusively on younger users. In light of the demographic shift and the increasing importance of the "Silver Market" segment (customers 55 years plus), we analysed whether important determinants of user innovator behaviour (use experience, product knowledge, technical expertise, and the lead user components) exert the same influence among older users. We conducted a study in the camping and caravanning industry and included 333 respondents from 19 to 86 years of age. The innovator share among older users was slightly lower (43% versus 57%). While use experience and product knowledge turned out less important for older users in our sample, technical expertise materialised as the most important determinant. Additionally, being ahead of trend is stronger related to dissatisfaction with existing products among older users. We found additional evidence that users with high use experience suffer from functional fixedness.