Showing papers on "Diffusion of innovations published in 1999"

Accelerating the Diffusion of Innovations Using Opinion Leaders

Abstract: Theory on the diffusion of innovations has been used to study the spread of new ideas and practices for over 50 years in a wide variety of settings. Most studies have been retrospective, and most have neglected to collect information on interpersonal communica- tion networks. In addition, few have attempted to use the lessons from diffusion research to accelerate the diffusion of innovations. This article outlines a method to accelerate the diffusion of innova- tions using opinion leaders. The authors present their optimal matching procedure and report on computer simulations that show how much faster diffusion occurs when initiated by opinion leaders. Limitations and extensions of the model are discussed.

Cultural transmission and the diffusion of innovations : adoption dynamics indicate that biased cultural transmission is the predominate force in behavioral change and much of sociocultural evolution

Abstract: In challenging the pervasive model of individual actors as cost-benefit analysts who adapt their behavior by learning from the environment, this article analyzes the temporal dynamics of both environmental (individual) learning and biased cultural transmission processes by comparing these dynamics with the robust “5-shaped” curves that emerge from the diffusion of innovations literature. The analysis shows three things: (1) that environmental learning alone never produces the 5-shaped adoption dynamics typically observed in the spread of novel practices, ideas, and technologies; (2) that biased cultural transmission always produces the S-shaped temporal dynamics; and (3) that a combination of environmental learning and biased cultural transmission can generate 5-dynamics but only when biased cultural transmission is the predominate force in the spread of new behaviors. These findings suggest that biased cultural transmission processes are much more important to understanding the diffusion of innovations and sociocultural evolution than is often assumed by most theorists. [diffusion of innovations, cultural transmission, learning, cultural evolution]

The Diffusion of Process Innovations: A Selective Review

Abstract: This paper surveys some of the most noteworthy literature on the diffusion of process technologies from the point of view of economics. It examines the main theoretical approaches to the diffusion phenomenon: epidemic and learning effects, equilibrium models associated with firm characteristics and strategic interaction. It also discusses the role of the supply side. Empirical work modelling inter-firm diffusion is reviewed, and special attention is given to the role of geography and inter-firm networking in the process of knowledge transfer and diffusion. Some suggestions for further research are presented as a conclusion.

Research Notes: Looking Back and Thinking Ahead: Effects of Prior Success on Managers' Interpretations of New Information Technologies

Abstract: We investigated the effects of a company's success with using an existing information technology (IT) on its managers' strategic issue interpretations of new information technologies in their indus...

Faculty Response to Library Technology: Insights on Attitudes

Abstract: ACADF MIC LIBRARIESHAVP MADE A sI(:NIFIc:Awr investment in electronic information resources and associated computer-based technologies so that their users can gain access to those resources and services The faculty response to the increase in these library technologies is not always known Using an essential element from the theory of the diffusion of innovations (that individuals adopt innovations at different rates), the authors conducted a series of focus group sessions and personal interviews with university faculty to discover their attitudes regarding the computer-based information resources that academic libraries provide to meet their information needs This article explores the differences between the level of adoption of information resources by selected faculty and their responses to these technologies, the impact of library technology on the way they use the library for research and teaching, and their interpretation of the role the library plays in this period of transition and change

Communication Networks in the Diffusion of an Innovation in an Organization1

Abstract: Research on decision-making processes and the diffusion of innovations in organizations has been focused on the influence of formal organizational structures. Since the successful implementation of most innovations requires the cooperation of employees, it is important to investigate how employees' knowledge, opinions, and individual decisions concerning an innovation are influenced by other employees. The present study investigates how information acquisition and adoption decisions of employees are influenced by the quantity and strength of their informal communication ties in the organization, and how strong this influence is in comparison with influence from formal communication sources. Results indicate that formal communication sources contributed more to the process of information diffusion, whereas informal communication sources (especially the employees' strong ties), were more influential on attitudes and adoption intentions.

Innovation diffusion and implementation

Abstract: Economic progress continues to be greatly influenced by the development and adoption of innovations. Maintaining momentum necessitates understanding factors that influence the choices made by organisations. Diffusion and implementation research have each sought to understand necessary conditions and motivations and to identify obstacles. Whether these two areas of research have the same determinants, overlap, or are separate is controversially affecting the interpretation of current research. This issue is the subject of this paper. The empirical investigation compares variables of the diffusion chronology with the choice decision in implementation. This macro-level analysis reveals that the two areas are connected but there are also substantial differences. The results of this study reconfirm the emerging evidence in the literature that the innovation adoption decision should not be treated as a dichotomous organisational choice. Furthermore, the evidence strongly points to the need to develop integrative theories that include the chronological aspects of the innovation adoption process.

Social networks and the diffusion of fertility control in the Republic of Korea.

Abstract: In this chapter we specify a social learning perspective in which individuals draw upon peers reference groups and others in an effort to clarify the costs and benefits of new and innovative reproductive strategies. This social learning perspective is a fundamental and perhaps the defining feature of models of ideational change and diffusion of innovations l Diffusion need not play the dominant role in fertility decisions; rather we argue that it will often reinforce the effects of conventional social or economic determinants and serve to amplify their influence over time and across social groups. We will use statistical methods appropriate to diffusion models to test for interpersonal diffusion in a sample of rural villages in the Republic of Korea in 1973. The tests are made possible by information rarely encountered in demographic work: social network data measured at the individual level. We first describe the various fertility-related networks in which rural Korean women participate and examine the overlaps and points of contact among the networks. We then ask whether the social network variables exert any independent influence on individual contraceptive use net of the effects of other socio-economic factors. (excerpt)

Adoption of payment systems in ten countries – a case study of diffusion of innovations

Abstract: Studies adoptions of four different payment systems in ten countries during 1988‐96. Adoption curves are estimated from secondary data concerning ATMs and banker’s cards. Usage of a previously introduced payment system appeared to affect the adoption of a system innovation. Based on the shape of the adoption curves and the estimation of external and internal influences from the social system, it was concluded that the adoption process was almost exclusively driven by internal influences, i.e. social learning. Draws conclusions for the introduction of the smart card.

Internet Diffusion and Usage in China

Abstract: This article examines China's fast-growing Internet market from the perspective of its users in terms of adoption dynamics and usage patterns, using first-hand survey data and extensive background information on China's Internet. Present users are an elite group whose profile is presented in the article. Barriers to Internet diffusion include mainly resources, speed, and a limitation of online applications. These factors also impact on usage characteristics. Several policy recommendations and emerging trends, such as e-commerce and Internet telephony, are also discussed.

The diffusion of energy efficiency innovations among residential energy consumers

Abstract: The escalating economic and environmental costs associated with energy use, in conjunction with the energy sector reforms, have lead to increased interest in residential energy efficiency. The current paper uses a diffusion of innovations approach to develop qualitative choice models for the consideration and adoption of energy efficiency devices. The models were estimated using data collected from 705 Christchurch households. Perceived attributes such as financial savings, purchase price and the life of the product were found to be important components of problem recognition and distinguished those who had considered adoption from those who had not. Among those who had already considered adoption it was the communication channels, not the perceived attributes, that were the distinguishing features. Proponents of energy efficiency focus their attention on establishing inter‐personal communication strategies and increasing the visibility of benefits, rather than relying on price subsidies or mass‐media cam...

Jumpstarting the information design for a community network

Abstract: This paper describes both the process and outcome of an effort to develop an information design for a community network's web site. Typically, community networks are developed by a small group of skilled computer users who are willing to volunteer their time. This often means excluding individuals who are community-oriented but not sophisticated computer users. To encourage the participation of these community members, and to do so under the very realistic conditions of zero funding for research, we applied user-centered design techniques and drew from diffusion of innovations literature to develop the web site. This combination of techniques led to targeting innovators and early adopters in the community. Low-fidelity prototypes were used in a focus group setting, and usability tests were employed to create the initial web site information design.

Media Production: Towards Creative Collaboration UsingCommunication Networks

Abstract: To examine the diffusion of remote collaboration technologies within the media production industries, a series of case studies was recently conducted with early adopters of advanced electronic networks in Sydney, Los Angeles and London. The studies assessed: 1) user reactions to these collaboration technologies and types of activities being supported and 2) factors influencing their adoption decisions. Interviews conducted also provided early indications of the conditions likely to facilitate remote collaboration and the likely impacts on work practices in media production organizations. It was established that electronic delivery, remote access to resources and materials, and remote creative collaboration were all being carried out, even internationally. Although most network applications were routine substitutions for non-electronic equivalents (e.g. couriers or catalogue browsing), some did involve shared creative activities, thus confirming that remote creative collaboration is a viable option. Key factors influencing network adoption were cost considerations and regulatory issues, time savings and productivity, and security concerns. Certain industry segments -- animation, post-production, and advertising -- were more likely to be early adopters, as were companies who found innovative ways to achieve greater benefits. Conditions likely to facilitate remote collaboration include more sophisticated change-agent strategies, increasing the perceived control of creative outputs, developing and maintaining trust, providing more auxiliary support for coordination needs, and making more effective use of timing and time-zone differences. Likely impacts of remote collaboration in media production are: more overlap between pre-production, production, and post-production activities; faster work pace; enhanced creativity; and improved quality of work life.

The diffusion of innovations in urban design: The case of sustainability in the Hulme development guide

Abstract: The role of town planning in the British system of local government is evolving rapidly. To evaluate what is happening requires a discussion of the way in which new ideas are put into practice, as well as of the application of this theory to urban design. This paper applies the theory of innovation‐diffusion to this problem, focusing on the experiments in urban design guidance which are currently linked to the consideration of sustainability at the neighbourhood scale. It includes a case study from Manchester. In this a description of the Hulme Regeneration project and its design guide is supplemented by discussion of a small set of interviews with members of the team which wrote the guide and is implementing its provisions, including those on sustainability. The discussion of these interviews suggests that the achievement of new planning objectives is affected by the degree to which innovations are accepted by those playing a role in the implementation process.

Characteristics of users of medical innovations

Abstract: Some innovations are adopted quickly and are widely used; others never seem to find widespread acceptance. Among the many factors related to the diffusion of innovations are sociodemographic, psychological and communications variables. This examination of three groups of physicians who adopted innovations and changed some aspect of their medical practice identifies the common characteristics of younger age (or younger professional age), board certification or specialization, increased information-seeking behavior and increased contact with opinion leaders.

Technology and the Global Economy

Abstract: Since at least the eighteenth century, much of the world has experienced ongoing gains in the standard of living, a process that Simon Kuznets labeled "Modern Economic Growth." Economists have long sought to understand the forces behind this phenomenon. Accumulation of physical capital provided a simple and natural explanation. But Robert Solow's fundamental work in the late 1950s showed that capital accumulation could account for less than half of the growth in U.S. income per capita. Solow suggested that ongoing improvements in technology might tell the rest of the story. While subsequent work refined Solow's analysis, it did little to upset the basic conclusion that capital accumulation provides a very incomplete explanation for why countries grow. While interest in growth waned in the 1970s, the last decade and a half has seen a resurgence of research on why incomes rise over time, and why some countries are richer than others. There are now a number of elegant theories of how technological progress drives growth. But in turning the spotlight to technology rather than to investment, Solow made the job of quantifying the sources of growth, and assessing how policies affect growth, much harder. At the heart of the problem is measurement. We have imperfect, but usable, ways to measure resources diverted from other uses toward investment in capital. We can also gauge (much more roughly) how much capital is on hand. Such measures give us some handle on capital's contribution to growth over time and to differences in incomes across countries. But technology presents the empirical economist with a much more elusive concept. We do not observe people coming up with new ideas, and we cannot systematically trace how these ideas shape the process of production over time and space. A number of basic questions, however, hinge on understanding how innovations occur, and how these innovations raise income levels around the world. For example: Do countries rely, for the most part, on their own innovations, or are the gains from innovation largely shared? Where does most innovation occur, and where are these innovations most rapidly put into practice? To the extent that the benefits of innovation seep across borders, do these gains spread through the exchange of products embodying these innovations, or through the diffusion of the ideas themselves? The answers to these questions are of intrinsic interest, but they are also at the heart of any evaluation of the myriad government policies that affect innovation. For instance: What are the benefits and costs of tougher patent protection, and how are they shared across countries? Does a country recover the costs of giving research expenditures favorable tax treatment, or are the benefits largely dissipated through the diffusion of innovations abroad? What are the gains from coordinating research policies internationally? To what extent does greater openness spread the benefits of technical progress? Sam Kortum and I are engaged in a research project that attempts to shed light on these issues. Our framework builds on recent advances in growth theory and trade theory. We take this theoretical framework to a number of sources of data. We look not only at productivity across countries and over time; we also use data on research effort, patenting, education, and bilateral trade. Our research so far has pursued four broad sets of issues: 1) quantifying the contributions of innovation and diffusion to world growth, 2) explaining differences in research effort across countries, 3) analyzing the effects of national technology policies in an international context, and 4) assessing the role of trade in disseminating the benefits of technological advances between countries. I discuss our results on each category, and then turn to work-in-progress. World Growth and the International Diffusion of Technology In a series of papers, Kortum and I have sought to trace productivity improvements in different countries to the countries that generated the innovations behind those improvements. …

DiscourseResearch Utilization: Current Issues, Questions,and Debates

Abstract: What is apparent in both the study and the application of research utilization principles and methods is that it is a social process. Our understanding of research utilization has been profoundly influenced by the body of knowledge around diffusion of innovations (Rogers, 1995), and studies informing its theoretical underpinnings have come from such diverse disciplines as rural sociology, communications, marketing and managing, health promotion, and medical sociology. There has been an exponential growth in the number of publications in the area (Rogers) and, equally significant, a widening of the theoretical perspectives from which it is viewed. Diffusion research itself has followed the pattern of the innovations it describes: early adopters developing new ideas and methods which in turn are taken up by more members of the research community. What is still not clear, however, is the amount of theoretical overlap between diffusion research and such issues as research utilization, research implementation, or, most recently, evidence-based practice (Estabrooks, 1998). Public-health, medical-sociology, and nursing studies around diffusion research and research utilization have been, until recently, modest in both number and influence. The first wave of utilization

Creating conversations for change: lessons from learning history projects.

Abstract: Learning from experience -- taking an initiative that has been successful on one part of the organization and building upon it in another part of the organization -- has challenged firms as for lon...

Information technology and health care partnerships: training medical professionals in central and eastern Europe and the New Independent States

Abstract: The American International Health Alliance (AIHA), a not-for-profit health care organization founded in 1992 and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), uses Internet technology and computer-mediated communication to foster and enhance partnerships between United States hospitals and medical institutions in Central Eastern Europe (CEE) and the New Independent States (NIS) of the former Soviet Union. As a way to sustain these partnerships, the AIHA instituted the Learning Resource Center (LRC) project, a program that provides information technology, in the form of hardware, software, and training, in order to educate CEE and NIS medical personnel about information technology and its usefulness in their medical practices. Everett Rogers's theory of the diffusion of innovations (E. Rogers, 1995) provides a useful tool for assessing the LRC project's success in supporting the partnerships by looking at the criteria of advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. In addition, Rogers's theory reveals the difficult intercultural issues raised by such a project, issues such as the differences in the levels of socio-economic infrastructure in CEE and NIS and the exportation of American values and culture that are inherent in the LRC project goals and in the information technology itself.

D.A.R.E. and the Diffusion of innovations: Implications for assessing reported drug alcohol and tobacco use among 8th 10th and 12th grade students in Montana public schools

Abstract: Although much time and money has been allocated to school-based drug resistance education, little if any progress has been made reducing drug use This paper compares the D.A.R.E. program to a model based upon Everett Rogers’ Diffusion of innovations, and a model constructed using measures cited in the literature as factors associated vi/ith at-risk youth (risk factors). The fundamental concern of this paper is to examine the degree to which those factors that facilitate the adoption of drug using behaviors lead to a better understanding of adolescent drug, alcohol, and tobacco use. Rogers’ model, a theoretically based model applied to behavioral change, is shown to have more promise for future research in this area.