%0 Journal Article %J Technology Innovation Management Review %D 2017 %T Action Research as a Framework to Evaluate the Operations of a Living Lab %A Sara Logghe %A Dimitri Schuurman %K action research %K Living lab %K panel management %K participatory action research %K user research %X In this article, we propose an action research approach to capture and act upon the delights and frustrations of panel members who participate in living lab research in order to optimize the operations of the living lab itself. We used this approach to test the effectiveness of action research in providing guidelines to practitioners to evaluate and design effective and sustainable user involvement processes in living labs. We conducted a focused literature review and an in-depth case study of both the integration of a researcher within the community and the implementation of an action research project within an existing living lab. This living lab is regarded as both a forerunner and a best-practice example in Europe. Based on our findings, we recommend co-creating the “operations” of a living lab with the users themselves following a combined action research and living lab approach. %B Technology Innovation Management Review %I Talent First Network %C Ottawa %V 7 %P 35-41 %8 02/2017 %G eng %U http://timreview.ca/article/1056 %N 2 %1 imec – MICT – Ghent University Sara Logghe is a Living Lab Researcher at imec – MICT – Ghent University in Belgium. She holds master’s degrees in History and Communication Sciences from Ghent University, and her research interests include the potential of social media for cultural institutions, the changing library landscape, and living labs. %2 imec – MICT – Ghent University Dimitri Schuurman is the Team Lead in User Research at imec.livinglabs and a Senior Researcher at imec – MICT – Ghent University in Belgium. He holds a PhD and a Master’s degree in Communication Sciences from Ghent University. Together with his imec colleagues, Dimitri developed a specific living lab offering targeted at entrepreneurs in which he has managed over 100 innovation projects. Dimitri is responsible for the methodology and academic valorization of these living lab projects and coordinates a dynamic team of living lab researchers. His main interests and research topics are situated in the domains of open innovation, user innovation, and innovation management. His PhD thesis was entitled Bridging the Gap between Open and User Innovation? Exploring the Value of Living Labs as a Means to Structure User Contribution and Manage Distributed Innovation. %R http://doi.org/10.22215/timreview/1056