| Diffusion Of Innovations |
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THEORIES OF INNOVATION DIFFUSION French sociologist Gabriel Tarde originally claimed that sociology was based on small psychological interactions among individuals, especially Imitation and Innovation . Diffusion of innovations theory 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 (2.5%), Early Adopter s (13.5%), early majority (34%), late majority (34%) and laggards (16%), based on a Bell Curve . Each adopter's willingness and ability to adopt an innovation would depend on their awareness, interest, evaluation, trial, and adoption. Some of the characteristics of each category of adopter include:
Rogers showed these 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. 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''. CAVEATS AND CRITICISMS A number of other phenomena can influence innovation adoption rates. One of these is that 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. A second is that Disruptive Technologies may radically change the diffusion patterns for established technology by starting a different competing S-curve. Finally, Path Dependence may lock certain technologies in place, as in the QWERTY keyboard. SEE ALSO
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