When trying to identify lead users for the innovation process 3M did have difficulty. The Lead User Project Handbook by Churchill, von Hippel, and Sonnack (2009) gives some guidelines but the process itself is nothing but fluid. (https://web.mit.edu/evhippel/www/Lead%20User%20Project%20Handbook%20%28Full%20Version%29.pdf)
The authors suggest different types of lead users that can provide valuable information: 1) lead users in the target application and market; 2) lead users of similar applications in "advanced analog" markets; and 3) lead users with respect to specific and important product or service attributes desired by customers in the target markets. What suggestions would you make for improving upon this process?