---

Florian Denker explores the role of an individual´s domain knowledge for the proficient evaluation of early-stage new product ideas in the front-end of innovation. The results of his study show that in order to ensure an effective evaluation, evaluators of early-stage new product ideas should have comprehensive knowledge of consumers´ needs and wants, as well as distinct knowledge about the opportunities and limits of available technologies in the respective domain. In this context, the results show that not only firm-internal experts can have this knowledge. Users and, in particular, so-called "lead users" (i.e. users who are ahead of the majority on major market trends and innovations), could also be suitable for effectively evaluating early-stage new product ideas.

---

Front-end of innovation.- Foundations of research in the field of new idea evaluation.- Theoretical foundation of the role of individuals´ domain knowledge in evaluating early-stage new product ideas.- Empirical study - new product idea evaluations by experts, users, and laymen.- Implications for research and practice.

---

Dr. Florian Denker graduated at the Institute of Technology and Innovation Management at the Hamburg University of Technology with Univ.-Prof. Dr. Cornelius Herstatt.

---