Scientific instruments for living lab research - the knowledge worker productivity assessment

Abstract

Living labs provide real-world environments for experimentation with new concepts and concurrent, user-driven innovation. While innovation clearly means practical action, experimentation means scientific research. The paper discusses how such experiments can be designed with scientific rigor, what the research setting implies for the research method and how Web technology can be used for new ways of data collection from large stakeholder communities. The paper discusses how measuring instruments can be designed to support the integration of real life innovation and change with scientifically rigorous experimental laboratory. We introduce the example of www.produktive-schweiz. ch as an example of a minimal invasive research instrument to involve knowledge workers in their every day work environments. We focus on the logic of this instrument, which motivates participation and high quality data entry by providing instant meaningful feedback to participants. The paper concludes on the research opportunities of such instruments and their impact on operational scientific procedures, including theory foundation, questionnaire design, and result presentation.