Diffusion of innovations - extension
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The document explores the diffusion of innovations, outlining how new ideas and technologies spread through cultures, primarily based on Everett Rogers' theory. It categorizes adopters into five groups—innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards—and details a five-stage model of innovation adoption. The text also critiques Rogers' model, highlighting that real-world adoption rates can be influenced by various factors beyond those he proposed.
Diffusion of innovations - extension
- 1. Diffusion of innovations-- Extension A presentation for MCJ students of Osmania University
- 2. Diffusion of innovation The study of the diffusion of innovation is the study of how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technology spread through cultures.
- 3. Diffusion of innovation French sociologist Gabriel Tarde originally claimed that sociology was based on small psychological interactions among individuals, especially imitation and innovation.
- 4. Everett Rogers theory A first theory of innovation diffusion was formalized by Everett Rogers in a 1962 book called Diffusion of Innovations . Rogers stated that adopters of any new innovation or idea could be categorized as innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority and laggards Each adopter's willingness and ability to adopt an innovation would depend on their awareness, interest, evaluation, trial, and adoption.
- 5. Characteristics of adopters Some of the characteristics of each category of adopter include: innovators - venturesome, educated, multiple info sources, greater propensity to take risk early adopters - social leaders, popular, educated early majority - deliberate, many informal social contacts late majority - skeptical, traditional, lower socio-economic status laggards - neighbours and friends are main info sources, fear of debt
- 6. Rogers Five Stage Model for Diffusion Rogers also proposed a five stage model for the diffusion of innovation: Knowledge - learning about the existence and function of the innovation Persuasion - becoming convinced of the value of the innovation Decision - committing to the adoption of the innovation Implementation - putting it to use Confirmation - the ultimate acceptance (or rejection) of the innovation
- 7. The S-Curve and technology adoption Rogers theorized that innovations would spread through society in an S curve, as the early adopters select the technology first, followed by the majority, until a technology or innovation is common.
- 8. The S-Curve and technology adoption The speed of technology adoption is determined by two characteristics p , which is the speed at which adoption takes off, and q , the speed at which later growth occurs. A cheaper technology might have a higher p , for example, taking off more quickly, while a technology that has network effects (like a fax machine, where the value of the item increases as others get it) may have a higher q .
- 9. Criticisms Critics of this model have suggested that it is an overly simplified representation of a complex reality. A number of other phenomena can influence innovation adoption rates, such as - Customers often adapt technology to their own needs, so the innovation may actually change in nature from the early adopters to the majority of users. Disruptive technologies may radically change the diffusion patterns for established technology by starting a different competing S-curve. Lastly, path dependence may lock certain technologies.