Diffusion of Innovation Theory

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Why do some innovations get adopted while others fail? The diffusion theory offers up one explanation for this phenomenon. The theory can be applied to a multitude of different products or ideas. This theoretical approach is fascinating do to the breadth of different fields that it can be applied to and to the depth that it can go into the field to formulate a. It allows for people to formulate a better understanding of the spread of new innovations. Diffusion theory can give a comprehensive picture as to how ideas spread in this social media age. To understand the depth of the diffusion of innovation theory you have to first understand what the theory is and how it analyzes situations. Then it has to be applied to and utilized. Lastly the justification of why this theory is an appropriate fit for the selected field of interest. The study of diffusion has been pursued by many scholars dating back over a hundred years.

Section One – Explication of the Theory:

The most prominent of those scholars is Everett M. Rogers who is considered to be the foremost authority on the diffusion of innovation theory. He published his first book The Diffusion of Innovation in 1962, in it he compiled about five hundred different studies conducted by other researchers and from that he postulated that a unifying theory could explain why, how and at what rate innovations would be adopted by a certain culture (Singhal 2003). E.M. Rogers as stated compiled other people’s research, which were predominately surveys of individuals, from that research he was able find the elements that he believed had an impact on diffusion. One of the strengths of this theory is that it can be used on an individual, group, or some other social order, which makes it qui...

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...y wanted to market it’s product to women 18-35 they could look at past campaigns to see what was and was not successful. This is just one of the myriad of was that the diffusion theory can be put to use.

The diffusion of innovation theory is a multifaceted tool that can be used for many purposes. It allows for a look at as to why an innovation succeeds or why it fails and it can also tell you how that innovation spread and to who it spread to over a certain period of time. The culmination of a life time of work by Everett M. Rogers who is the leader in the field of innovation diffusion and utilized by many that gathers most of the information needed through surveys. When applied to the field of the spread of media through the internet it can give a picture as to the types of things people find entertaining and it can also map how that media diffuses into society.

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