Diffusion of innovations

About: Diffusion of innovations is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2139 publications have been published within this topic receiving 191397 citations. The topic is also known as: diffusion of innovation & diffusion of innovations theory.

The Virtual Learning Commons (VLC): Enabling Sharing and Innovation for Flexible, Responsive Solutions

Abstract: A key challenge in modeling of complex natural systems is identifying and integrating models and tools that are relevant, but were not developed for the targeted purpose. Modeling resources are proliferating, along with emerging technologies designed to enable discovery and integration of data and models. The goal of the Virtual Learning Commons (VLC) is to improve awareness and understanding of emerging methodologies and technologies, facilitate individual and group evaluation of these for innovative uses, and trace the impact of innovations across research communities. The VLC is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation, and will be released in 2014. The VLC is a Web-based social bookmarking site with support for semantic analysis of content. It makes use of Web 2.0 (Social Web) and Web 3.0 (Semantic Web) approaches to enable discovery of potentially relevant model and tool innovations, and networked learning about their function. It is founded on well-developed models of technology adoption and diffusion of innovation. Expected outcomes from the VLC project are: • Improved dissemination of emerging models and tools across disciplines and institutions using Semantic Web approaches; • Better support for community learning using social and networked learning approaches; and • New methods for capturing the provenance (trace) of innovations from creators, to interested researchers, to users, based on the new provenance standard PROV-O. The VLC project is significant because across the globe, decision makers are calling for better translation of research products into impacts. The VLC provides a 21 century approach towards innovation, enabling better sharing and reuse of models and tools in a wider variety of research contexts.

Adopting Sustainable Menu Practices in Healthcare Institutions: Perceived Barriers and Facilitators.

Abstract: Purpose: The healthcare sector is an important area for sustainable food initiatives, given its inherent mission to heal and its substantial impact on the food system. Foodservice managers can take part in these initiatives by using sustainable menu practices (SMPs). This study aimed to explore managerial perceptions of barriers and facilitators to adopting SMPs in Québec healthcare institutions.Methods: Seventeen foodservice managers were recruited through purposeful sampling to participate in a qualitative semi-structured interview. The Diffusion of Innovations theory was used to assess the main determinants of the diffusion of an innovation (SMPs) through a complex social system (healthcare organization).Results: Participants reported more barriers than facilitators. Lack of support at many levels was recognized as a major hindrance to SMP adoption, as were shortfalls in political directives. Increased collaboration between all food system actors and better communication in healthcare were perceived as needed for increased SMP adoption.Conclusions: This research contributes to an in-depth understanding of managerial experiences in SMP adoption in various regional and healthcare settings. Findings suggest the need for support and strategies that would remove important barriers for foodservice managers and contributed to the development of a guide to support foodservice managers in implementing SMPs.

A mixed-method approach for determining the risk and complexity farmers associate with using forward contracts

Abstract: This paper reports on a model that was developed to understand the behavioural determinants surrounding farmers’ adoption of forward contracts for agricultural commodities. Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Diffusion of Innovations, 28 hypotheses within the model were written and then tested via a telephone survey that gathered 305 responses from Western Australian wool producers. The data from the telephone survey were analysed using SPSS 14 and the Partial Least Squares approach to Structural Equation Modelling. Most relationships within the model could be explained after rigorous quantitative analysis, however, further explanation was required to understand two final aspects of adoption behaviour: firstly, the sources of risk wool producers perceive about using forward contracts and, secondly, why ‘complexity’, which is normally a limiting factor to adoption, was not significant in the context of using forward contracts to sell wool. Qualitative case studies of four Western Australian wool producers were conducted to fill these gaps. Key findings from the case studies were that profit-raising, the whole farm system as basis for decision making, the mass media and social pressures are important behavioural factors that are limiting the adoption of forward contracts by Australian wool producers.

Effective strategies for changing physicians' behavior : Insights from research on diffusion of innovations

Abstract: The design and testing of new models for improving the quality of dementia care should draw on the broader literature on diffusion of innovations in health care and other settings, and knowledge about types of strategies likely to be effective in changing physician and health care organizational practices around care for dementia. At the individual physician level, such strategies should be interactive and employ social influence-based methods like opinion leaders, academic detailing, study groups, and others. It is likely that for a complex and chronic condition like dementia, much of the emphasis on improving care should target creation, testing, and replication of effective models for delivering care within different health care organizations.