SHWETA THAKUR(0191MIB009)

A group of talented individuals embarked to introduce leading edge market research

for understanding customer needs called "Lead User Research"
To achieve high rates of innovation, 3M placed a heavy emphasis on R&D.
Major innovation are post it note, waterproof sandpaper and Mask Tape.
Marketing input traditionally came from current customers and sales representative.
3M usually hires small research firms for marketing research report

Tools used by 3M to identify Market needs are * Data from sales representative
* Focus groups
* customer evaluation of current products
* Site visits by 3M scientists and technologists
these methods had disadvantages like too many interfaces between development
teams and customers and information obtained were not proprietary.

One size fits all strategy and time saving dispensing systems will boost product
acceptance.
enter into the areas of early intervention in the disease process.

I observed
lead user research methodology is very unpredictable. It can lead to discovery of
products that are never though before. In 3M, management gives more stress on
traditional approaches. The focus on incremental growth is so much that there are
thousands of 3M product concepts and inventions awaited markets and languished on
drawing boards and R&D labs. The company should move from its incremental
approach and restructure it's business strategy to focus on new product innovation.
developing cost effective products can help to capture markets in developing
countries.
introducing products for upstream containment of infection can help 3M to be the
leader in that sector.