Lead user identification in online user innovation communities: A method based on random forest classification

This paper aims to identify lead users from an online user innovation community. Based on three dimensions of user characteristics — user activeness, community influence, and user relations, a Random Forest classification model for lead user identification is proposed. Using the data from the MIUI forum of Xiaomi community, this model is tested. The result shows that Random Forest classification based the three dimensions of user characteristics is a feasible method for lead user identification.