The purpose of this paper is to study the impact of lead users (LUs) on innovation success by proposing and validating an integrative model that links LUs, innovation success and knowledge sharing (KS) variables.,The authors research is quantitative in nature and data were collected through a survey conducted among 30 information technology Tunisian companies. The authors preliminary analysis was explored using the “SPSS” software and processed through exploratory factor analysis and regression analysis methods.,Results showed that LUs who possess advanced skills and valuable knowledge can contribute to enhance new successful innovations, and hence, enable companies to gain short and long-term profits. Besides, the authors confirmed that the impact of LUs on innovation success is mediated by the “KS” behavior.,An integrative framework that links LUs, innovation success and a third variable called KS is presented to see beyond the intended importance of this type of user regarding the development of new innovations.,The paper offers new insights to the topic of LUs by emphasizing the role of “KS” variable in strengthening the LUs – innovation success relationship.

中文翻译：

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领先用户对创新成功的影响

本文的目的是通过提出并验证将LU，创新成功和知识共享（KS）变量联系起来的集成模型，研究主要用户（LU）对创新成功的影响。作者研究的性质和数据都是定量的通过对30个信息技术突尼斯公司进行的调查而收集的。作者使用“ SPSS”软件进行了初步分析，并通过探索性因素分析和回归分析方法进行了处理。结果表明，拥有先进技能和宝贵知识的逻辑单元可以促进新的成功创新，从而使公司获得成功短期和长期利润。此外，作者证实，LU对创新成功的影响是由“ KS”行为所介导的。