ABSTRACT

The last two decades have seen a growing literature worldwide on do-it-yourself (DiY) laboratories driving informal innovation. However, there is a limited account of the state-of-the-art DiY literature to the emergence of DiY laboratories or of the challenges, strategies for its diffusion and success. This study, therefore, aims to understand the state-of-the-art of DiY laboratories. Using the systematic literature review approach, 29 articles are analysed. The results revealed that the main purpose of publications on DiY laboratories was geared towards showcasing informal innovation. Most of the studies used the case study methodology and most were underpinned by theories from innovation literature. The success factors identified for DiY laboratories include personal motivation and the desire to create a business, whilst their emergence was driven by the need for extra income, experimenting with new ideas and the pursuit of hobbies outside formal work settings. Key challenges faced by DiY laboratories include economic and marketing factors, especially access to finance to scale up their innovations. The strategies used by DiY laboratories to diffuse their innovations are social networking, partnerships with bigger tech firms and selling off their innovations to investors. The study outlines the implications for practitioners, entrepreneurs, and government, and makes recommendations.

摘要

在过去的二十年里，世界范围内关于自己动手 (DiY) 实验室推动非正式创新的文献越来越多。然而，对于最先进的 DiY 文献对 DiY 实验室的出现或其传播和成功的挑战、策略的描述有限。因此，本研究旨在了解 DiY 实验室的最新技术。使用系统的文献综述方法，对 29 篇文章进行了分析。结果表明，DiY 实验室出版物的主要目的是展示非正式的创新。大多数研究使用案例研究方法，大多数研究以创新文献中的理论为基础。为 DiY 实验室确定的成功因素包括个人动机和创建业务的愿望，而他们的出现是由对额外收入的需求、尝试新想法和追求正式工作环境之外的爱好所推动的。DiY 实验室面临的主要挑战包括经济和营销因素，尤其是获得资金以扩大创新规模。DiY 实验室用来传播他们的创新的策略是社交网络、与更大的科技公司合作以及向投资者出售他们的创新。该研究概述了对从业者、企业家和政府的影响，并提出了建议。DiY 实验室用来传播他们的创新的策略是社交网络、与更大的科技公司合作以及向投资者出售他们的创新。该研究概述了对从业者、企业家和政府的影响，并提出了建议。DiY 实验室用来传播他们的创新的策略是社交网络、与更大的科技公司合作以及向投资者出售他们的创新。该研究概述了对从业者、企业家和政府的影响，并提出了建议。