Showing papers on "Diffusion of innovations published in 2007"

Network Analysis in Public Health: History, Methods, and Applications

Abstract: Network analysis is an approach to research that is uniquely suited to describing, exploring, and understanding structural and relational aspects of health. It is both a methodological tool and a theoretical paradigm that allows us to pose and answer important ecological questions in public health. In this review we trace the history of network analysis, provide a methodological overview of network techniques, and discuss where and how network analysis has been used in public health. We show how network analysis has its roots in mathematics, statistics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, biology, physics, and computer science. In public health, network analysis has been used to study primarily disease transmission, especially for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; information transmission, particularly for diffusion of innovations; the role of social support and social capital; the influence of personal and social networks on health behavior; and the interorganizational structure of health systems. We conclude with future directions for network analysis in public health.

Diffusion of Innovations in Health Service Organisations: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract: This is a systematic review on how innovations in health service practice and organisation can be disseminated and implemented. This is an academic text, originally commissioned by the Department of Health from University College London and University of Surrey, using a variety of research methods. The results of the review are discussed in detail in separate chapters covering particular innovations and the relevant contexts. The book is intended as a resource for health care researchers and academics. © 2005 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Adopting Web‐Based Learning and Teaching: A case study in higher education

Abstract: Most universities worldwide are becoming distance education providers through adopting web‐based learning and teaching via the introduction of learning management systems that enable them to open their courses to both on‐ and off‐campus students. Whether this is an effective introduction depends on factors that enable and impede the adoption of such systems and their related pedagogical strategies. This study examines such factors related to adopting a learning management system in a large multicampus urban Australian university. The research method used case study approaches and purposively selected the sample consisting of innovative teaching academics from across the university, who used web‐based approaches to teach both on‐ and off‐campus learners. The data were analyzed using a combination of Rogers’ theory of diffusion of innovations and actor‐network theory and revealed a series of enabling and impeding factors faced by pioneering technology‐adopter teaching academics, some of which are technology...

The adoption of innovations by provider organizations in health care.

Abstract: Innovations in health care account for some of the most dramatic improvements in population health outcomes in the developed world as well as for a nontrivial proportion of growth in expenditures. Provider organizations are the adopters of many of these innovations, and understanding the factors that inhibit or facilitate their diffusion to and possible disengagement from these organizations is important in addressing cost, quality, and access issues. Given the importance of these issues, the purpose of this article is to (1) create a comprehensive census of studies examining the adoption of and disengagement from innovations in health care provider organizations; (2) organize these studies into an inductively derived classification scheme; (3) assess the studies' strengths and weaknesses; and (4) reflect on the implications of our review for future research.

Challenges in mining social network data: processes, privacy, and paradoxes

Abstract: The profileration of rich social media, on-line communities, and collectively produced knowledge resources has accelerated the convergence of technological and social networks, producing environments that reflect both the architecture of the underlying information systems and the social structure on their members. In studying the consequences of these developments, we are faced with the opportunity to analyze social network data at unprecedented levels of scale and temporal resolution; this has led to a growing body of research at the intersection of the computing and social sciences.We discuss some of the current challenges in the analysis of large-scale social network data, focusing on two themes in particular: the inference of social processes from data, and the problem of maintaining individual privacy in studies of social networks. While early research on this type of data focused on structural questions, recent work has extended this to consider the social processes that unfold within the networks. Particular lines of investigation have focused on processes in on-line social systems related to communication [1, 22], community formation [2, 8, 16, 23], information-seeking and collective problem-solving [20, 21, 18], marketing [12, 19, 24, 28], the spread of news [3, 17], and the dynamics of popularity [29]. There are a number of fundamental issues, however, for which we have relatively little understanding, including the extent to which the outcomes of these types of social processes are predictable from their early stages (see e.g. [29]), the differences between properties of individuals and properties of aggregate populations in these types of data, and the extent to which similar social phenomena in different domains have uniform underlying explanations.The second theme we pursue is concerned with the problem of privacy. While much of the research on large-scale social systems has been carried out on data that is public, some of the richest emerging sources of social interaction data come from settings such as e-mail, instant messaging, or phone communication in which users have strong expectations of privacy. How can such data be made available to researchers while protecting the privacy of the individuals represented in the data? Many of the standard approaches here are variations on the principle of anonymization - the names of individuals are replaced with meaningless unique identifiers, so that the network structure is maintained while private information has been suppressed.In recent joint work with Lars Backstrom and Cynthia Dwork, we have identified some fundamental limitations on the power of network anonymization to ensure privacy [7]. In particular, we describe a family of attacks such that even from a single anonymized copy of a social network, it is possible for an adversary to learn whether edges exist or not between specific targeted pairs of nodes. The attacks are based on the uniqueness of small random subgraphs embedded in an arbitrary network, using ideas related to those found in arguments from Ramsey theory [6, 14]. Combined with other recent examples of privacy breaches in data containing rich textual or time-series information [9, 26, 27, 30], these results suggest that anonymization contains pitfalls even in very simple settings. In this way, our approach can be seen as a step toward understanding how techniques of privacy-preserving data mining (see e.g. [4, 5, 10, 11, 13, 15, 25] and the references therein) can inform how we think about the protection of eventhe most skeletal social network data.

The role of compatibility in the diffusion of technologies through social networks

Abstract: In many settings, competing technologies -- for example, operating systems, instant messenger systems, or document formats -- can be seen adopting a limited amount of compatibility with one another; in other words, the difficulty in using multiple technologies is balanced somewhere between the two extremes of impossibility and effortless interoperability. There are a range of reasons why this phenomenon occurs, many of which -- based on legal, social, or business considerations -- seem to defy concise mathematical models. Despite this, we show that the advantages of limited compatibility can arise in a very simple model of diffusion in social networks, thus offering a basic explanation for this phenomenon in purely strategic terms. Our approach builds on work on the diffusion of innovations in the economics literature, which seeks to model how a new technology A might spread through a social network of individuals who are currently users of technology B. We consider several ways of capturing the compatibility of A and B, focusing primarily on a model in which users can choose to adopt A, adopt B, or -- at an extra cost -- adopt both A and B. We characterize how the ability of A to spread depends on both its quality relative to B, and also this additional cost of adopting both, and find some surprising non-monotonicity properties in the dependence on these parameters: in some cases, for one technology to survive the introduction of another, the cost of adopting both technologies must be balanced within a narrow, intermediate range. We also extend the framework to the case of multiple technologies, where we find that a simple model captures the phenomenon of two firms adopting a limited "strategic alliance" to defend against a new, third technology.

Local Experts in the Domestication of Information and Communication Technologies

Abstract: Research into the adoption and use of new Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) pays increasing attention to social context; however, the social fabric of contexts of use is often poorly theorized. This paper presents an investigation into the formation and operation of informal local networks of collaboration and knowledge exchange. It highlights the role of local experts in sustaining these informal networks and helping individuals and groups adopt and cope with new ICTs. The paper draws on a range of analytic traditions, including domestication and consumer research, to assess how local experts transfer knowledge, ideas of use and even new technologies across social networks and across the boundaries between home, work and education and other domains of life. The methodology deployed attempts to overcome the limitations of many studies of the adoption and diffusion of innovations in sample selection, especially the inclusion of non-adopters. It addresses the social dynamics of engagement wi...

Inter and intra firm diffusion of ict in the united kingdom (uk) and switzerland (ch) an internationally comparative study based on firm-level data

Abstract: This paper attempts to at least partially redress a paucity of current literature on the joint analysis of inter and intra firm diffusion of innovations within as well as across countries. In particular, by using two datasets derived from independent countryspecific surveys, it undertakes an international comparison of inter and intra firm diffusion of ICT use in the UK and Switzerland. This allows one to address many of the problems that have prevented general conclusions on the drivers of inter and intra firm ICT adoption decisions. An encompassing model is proposed which gives quite satisfactory results for both countries. It is found that inter and intra firm ICT adoption decisions are driven by different factors, confirming the findings of Battisti and Stoneman (2003, 2005) and Hollenstein and Woerter (2004) that ”first use’’ and ”intensification of use” represent independent choices. The study also suggests that significant differences exist between the UK and Switzerland, probably as a result of their differing diffusion stages. Besides, the importance of new organisational and managerial practices as drivers of diffusion stressed by recent theoretical and empirical work is supported for both countries. Overall the findings suggest that comparative research is a promising way to identify robust relationships and should be explored further.

The ‘New’ Science of Networks and the Challenge of School Change

Abstract: To promote effective teacher collaboration, school leaders must examine all the social networks already in place and must ensure that expertise and other social resources are available at multiple levels in the school community. ********** WHAT DO finding a job, finding others who share an interest in quilting, getting medical advice, and improving teaching and learning have in common? All of these actions require individuals to draw on information or expertise through their ties to others in social networks. The study of people's social ties, the resources they obtain from them, and the communication tools--such as the Internet--that facilitate the flow of expertise and resources makes up an evolving science of networks that can help us better understand how to support and promote school change. The science of networks is not new in itself, but its application to the functioning of schools is. Sociologists have used mathematical methods for analyzing social networks since the 1960s and 1970s to study how people use social ties to find information, resources, and even other people to help them accomplish their goals. (1) Some of the earliest diagrams made of social networks concerned relationships among students. (2) More recently, researchers have begun to use social network analysis to analyze school leadership, teacher communities, and the diffusion of innovations in schools. And it turns out that--as in other domains--networks matter for school change. A social network refers to a set of people and the relationships among them. Sometimes these relationships are concentrated in small subgroups, and the larger network can be described in terms of the connections between subgroups. (3) So we can describe a school as a network that is composed of a set of subgroups, such as grade-level or subject-area teachers, students arranged by different grade levels, and smaller cliques of students within those grade levels. A network analysis then helps us understand how expertise, information, and resources flow from person to person and from subgroup to subgroup in the social structure. In teacher networks--the focus of this article and of our own research--the kinds of information and resources that circulate include ideas about teaching, learning, and assessment; talk about how to coordinate different school activities; stories of students and their successes and difficulties; strategies for managing learning in groups; tips for how to use technology; and views on administrators and administration. Some of this information is potentially of great use in facilitating school change, as when a teacher shares an idea about how to use a particular strategy for teaching writing in the classroom or demonstrates a method of assessment for a colleague. Of course, not all interactions facilitate school change. Talk about students can degenerate into gossip that leads to undeserved student reputations. Talk about certain teachers can isolate them. Talk about the administration can undercut the authority of particular reform goals. Setting up more frequent and regular meetings in which teachers talk about practice is a common strategy schools use for improving teaching, but it doesn't always work. Two important questions that the science of networks can help answer are "When does teacher collaboration lead to school change?" and "What are the forces that increase or restrict the flow of information and expertise among members of a teaching community?" As part of a study funded by the National Science Foundation, a group of researchers at SRI International, Michigan State University, and Pennsylvania State University set out to answer these questions. We used social network analysis and a longitudinal design to identify patterns of collaboration and sharing of expertise among teachers that led to self-reported changes in practice. We focused our research on 23 schools in California. …

The Impact of Governmental Policies in Institutional Fields: The Case of Innovation in the Dutch Concrete Industry:

Abstract: The creation of markets for new products involves interplay between various field constituents. A major challenge in this process is to establish a sufficient level of legitimacy in order for a market to become accepted in the organization field. Yet, this process of market creation may be suppressed by established institutional arrangements that actively block the diffusion of innovations and constrain change. In this paper, we examine the roles of regulatory structures, professional associations and competitors in market suppression. We pay particular attention to the actions and circumstances preventing change in a mature sector of the economy, despite state policies directed at change. Active resistance from professional associations and corporate actors inhibited creation of a new market. We draw upon institutional theory to provide an account of the different communities of interest involved in an institutional field, exploring how they are developed and negotiated. We argue that the role of the gov...

Meanings on multiple levels: The influence of field-level and organizational-level meaning systems on diffusion

Abstract: This study considers how organization-level and field-level meaning systems affect when firms adopt administrative innovations. We use a sample of over 1200 manufacturing sites to test hypotheses regarding the timing of adoption of Manufacturing Best Practice programmes. The results indicate that compatibility of the diffusing practice with the organization's internal meaning system is an important predictor of when firms adopt such programmes. However, the influence of such compatibility declines for later adopters - consistent with institutional pressures in the form of field-level meaning systems playing an increasing role over time. We also find that this decline occurs for sites with high exposure to institutional pressures, but not for sites with lower exposure. The findings suggest that internal meaning systems and differential exposure moderate the role of institutional pressures in the diffusion of administrative innovations. We discuss implications for theory and research on institutionalization and the diffusion of innovations. © Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2007.

The role of action research in the investigation and diffusion of innovations in health care: the PRIDE project.

Abstract: In this article, the authors discuss the role of action research in relation to the investigation and practical implementation of innovations in health care. The diffusion of innovations is an essential component of the modernization of health services worldwide. However, the literature shows that it is not an easy process to research. A paradox is noted that although action research has much to offer, it has had only a limited impact in the innovation field. Drawing on an example of a project in the United Kingdom, the authors discuss whether action research is a valuable method in the study of the diffusion of innovations. They analyze its strengths and limitations as a “whole systems approach” that combines researching with developing and diffusing innovations. They argue that it is best suited to the study of innovation diffusion where there is a need for high level of adaptation in each new setting.

Diffusion of virtual innovation

Abstract: Drawing on Rogers' diffusion of innovations theory, specifically his innovation decision process model, this paper develops a research framework that identifies the accelerators and inhibitors of virtual world technology adoption. Categorized by level of analysis, specific factors influencing the adoption of virtual world technology by organizations are identified. At the individual level of analysis, factors such as the technology's ease of use and usefulness, as well as the individual's computer self-efficacy, trust, and enjoyment are discussed in terms of their "bottom-up" influence on technology diffusion. At the group level of analysis, different forms of group efficacy (such as computer collective efficacy and virtual team efficacy) are suggested to play a role in virtual world technology adoption and diffusion. Further, group-level technology acceptance factors (including a priori beliefs and attitudes toward the technology, as well as psychosocial variables) are proposed to influence a group's overall valence toward the technology, driving the adoption of the technology Finally, at the organizational level of analysis, technical compatibility, technical complexity, and relative advantage are explored as major factors influencing an organization's willingness to adopt virtual world technology through "top-down" diffusion that follows specific isomorphic processes. Finally, the role of organizational culture is also discussed. Through the identification and discussion of innovation diffusion factors which occur at different levels of analysis and at different stages of the innovation decision process, this study provides a framework for studying the adoption, spread, and continual use of virtual world technology.

Smoke-free spaces over time: a policy diffusion study of bylaw development in Alberta and Ontario, Canada.

Abstract: Policy diffusion is a process whereby political bodies 'learn' policy solutions to public health problems by imitating policy from similar jurisdictions. This suggests that diffusion is a critical element in the policy development process, and that its role must be recognised in any examination of policy development. Yet, to date, no systematic work on the diffusion of smoke-free spaces bylaws has been reported. We examined the diffusion of municipal smoke-free bylaws over a 30-year period in the provinces of Alberta and Ontario, Canada, to begin to address this gap and to determine whether spatial patterns could be identified to help explain the nature of policy development. Bylaw adoption and change were analysed within local, regional, and provincial contexts. Geographical models of hierarchical and expansion diffusion in conjunction with the diffusion of innovations framework conceptually guided the analyses. Study findings contribute to a broader understanding of how and why health policies diffuse across time and place. Policy development can be a powerful mechanism for creating environments that support healthy decisions; hence, an understanding of policy diffusion is critical for those interested in policy interventions aimed at improving population health in any jurisdiction.

Social networks and technology adoption in small business

Abstract: Many extant studies seek to explore the technology adoption characteristics of small firms. Given the importance of technology to firm success, understanding the determinants of technology adoption and its subsequent diffusion is the prevailing theme in much of the extant literature on small business. However, few studies investigate the impact of social networks on technology adoption in small firms. As small business owners are often part of a dynamic network of other business owners and suppliers, among others, it is likely that the business owner's decision to adopt various technologies will be influenced by their networks. In this study, we build on and draw from the work of various researchers such as Rogers' Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory, Davis' Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Bandiera and Rasul's work on the influence of network type and Abrahamson and Rosenkopf's research on network density to construct our parsimonious model. The conceptual model presented integrates key adoption attributes (i.e. organisational readiness, compatibility, Perceived Usefulness (PU), Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and top management support) with that of social network concepts (i.e. extra-firm networks, network density and network type) to determine their relationship with technology adoption.

An investigation of global versus local online branding

Abstract: Purpose – Draws upon Hofstede's cultural values and Rogers' diffusion of innovations to investigate relationships between search engine popularity and a company's preference for global versus local online branding.Design/methodology/approach – Investigates the global versus local domain name selection strategies and web site popularity of multinational corporations based on their organizational characteristics and Hofstede's cultural values of their host countries.Findings – Organizational size, industry and two cultural values – individualism and masculinity – relate to how companies adopt innovations, in this case selecting and promoting a global or local online identity. For their web presence, most Fortune Global 500 companies use the global.com domain rather than a local country domain. The results also suggest a virtual divide in online visibility, favoring.com companies over companies using country domains.Research limitations/implications – Limitations of this study include the lack of a longitudi...

Evaluating Citizen Attitudes Towards Local E-Government and a Comparison of Engagement Methods in the UK

Abstract: This case considers the issues facing local authorities in the UK regarding engaging their citizen’s with online service delivery channels. While these issues are shared with all local authorities in the UK, the focus of the work is around the far South West of England, in a region where, given high levels of social and economic exclusion, low incomes, and low population density, local e-government services have great potential to benefit populations. Several datasets highlight the problem that the local authorities face in the region; a disengaged population and a lack of trust in both local and central government. However, we can also demonstrate that once engaged, citizens can appreciate the value of online services and will make use of them. Building upon this data, two approaches to engagement are examined; one a national mass media led campaign whose impact upon the study region is assessed, and another at the grass roots level of local communities, where trusted community volunteers are used as facilitators for engagement. We demonstrate failure with the mass media effort, and some significant success with the grass roots engagement. However, we must conclude that the key challenge facing local authorities is not in the generation of engagement efforts in the short term, but sustaining their impact in the long term.

Uptake And Diffusion Of Pharmaceutical Innovations In Health Systems

Abstract: Multiple interacting factors influence the uptake and diffusion of medicines which are critical to improving health. However, there is a gap in our knowledge on how regulatory policies and other national health systems attributes combine to impact on the utilisation of innovative drugs, and health system goals and objectives.Our review demonstrates that strong regulation adversely affects access to innovation, reduces incentives for research-based firms to develop innovative products and leads to short- and long-term welfare losses. Short-term efficiency gains from reducing pharmaceutical expenditures may actually increase total healthcare costs, reduce user choice, and in some cases, adversely affect health outcomes.Decision makers need to adopt a holistic approach to policy making, and consider potential impact of regulations on the uptake and diffusion of innovations, innovation systems and health system goals.

Course management software adoption: a diffusion of innovations perspective

Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this study is to explore the adoption of course management software (CMS) among faculty in a nursing program in order to better understand the consequences that result from adoption decisions.Design/methodology/approach – A case study approach was taken using a component of diffusion of innovations theory as a framework for exploring the research questions.Findings – Diffusion of innovations theory suggests there are three dimensions of consequences that should be analyzed: desirable versus undesirable consequences; direct versus indirect consequences; and anticipated versus unanticipated consequences. Consistent with Roger's theory, direct and anticipated consequences of adoption of a CMS by faculty went together. In addition, the research findings were consistent with Roger's theory in that it was difficult to separate desirable from undesirable consequences resulting from the innovation of course management system adoption.Originality/value – The results of this research suppor...

Perceived Quality of Mobile Services: A Segment-Specific Analysis

Abstract: The book investigates user satisfaction with mobile services, the perceived quality of m-commerce products, and the loyalty towards service providers. After introducing the m-commerce value chain and emerging mobile services, the first part examines relevant theories from diffusion of innovations and service quality to mobile services, and identifies new trends in the mobile communication market. The book demonstrates to what extent service quality and adoption theories of consumer behavior literature explain the (repeated) usage of mobile services, and how the results differ by user segments. Apriori and a-posteriori segmentations provide detailed insights. The results indicate that it is important to consider (un)observed heterogeneity in explanatory models.

Uptake and diffusion of pharmaceutical innovations in health systems

Abstract: Multiple interacting factors influence the uptake and diffusion of medicines which are critical to improving health. However, there is a gap in our knowledge on how regulatory policies and other national health systems attributes combine to impact on the utilisation of innovative drugs, and health system goals and objectives. Our review demonstrates that strong regulation adversely affects, access to innovation, reduces incentives for research-based firms to develop innovative products and leads to short- and long-term welfare losses. Short-term efficiency gains from reducing pharmaceutical expenditures may actually increase total healthcare costs, reduce user choice, and in some cases, adversely affect health outcomes. Decision makers need to adopt a holistic approach to policy making, and consider potential impact of regulations on the uptake and diffusion of innovations, innovation systems and health system goals.

Explaining and Predicting Information Systems Acceptance and Success: An Integrative Model

Abstract: This paper proposes a new model – the Information Systems Acceptance (ISA) model - to explain and predict IS acceptance. Drawing on previous literature, and the results of a series of case studies, the ISA model integrates four sets of factors influencing IS acceptance: (i) technology characteristics; (ii) management actions; (iii) service quality; and (iv) system use, user satisfaction and system outcomes. These sets of factors are drawn from well-established frameworks. Building on established theories, the model incorporates previous research, overcomes some of the limitations associated with these individual theories, and assembles IS acceptance factors into a comprehensive and useable conceptual framework.

Diffusion of innovations through social networks of children

Abstract: Purpose – The paper aims to examine the role of social networks of children on the diffusion of an innovation.Design/methodology/approach – The impact of social networks on the adoptive behavior of children is measured in the study and then compared to more traditional marketing strategies. Therefore an experiment was conducted on three primary public schools in The Netherlands, with children aged eight to 12.Findings – The paper finds that a child's centrality in his/her social network was the most important determinant for adoptive behavior. The higher a child's centrality in his/her social network, the stronger a child's adoptive behavior. In addition the findings show that traditional marketing strategies such as mass media appeared to have no impact on adoptive behavior at all.Research limitations/implications – Results indicate that instead of focusing on traditional marketing strategies for children, more attention should be paid to a child's social network position.Originality/value – The number o...