DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION
GROUP MEMBERS VENUGOPAL ARRAVELLI VENKAT SWAMINATH CHANNA susheel VASUDHA UBAD KHAN
MEANING The diffusion of an innovation is the spread
of a product, process, or idea perceived as new, through communication channels, among the members of a social system over time. Innovations can be a new product or output, a new process or way of doing something, or a new idea or concept. The “newness” of an innovation is subjective, determined by the potential adopter.
CONTINUE…. The product will reach a maturity stage where little growth will
be seen & some products may also reach a decline stage, usually because the product category is being replaced by something better. For example, typewriters experienced declining sales as more consumers switched to computers or other word processing equipment. The product life cycle is tied to the phenomenon of diffusion of innovation. When a new product comes out, it is likely to first be adopted by consumers who are more innovative than others— they are willing to pay a premium price for the new product and take a risk on unproven technology. It is important to be on the good side of innovators since many other later adopters will tend to rely for advice on the innovators who are thought to be more knowledgeable about new products for advice.
PRODUCT LIFE CYCLE
example, IBM did not invent the personal computer, but entered after other firms showed the market to have a high potential. Products can be new to the segment—e.g., cellular phones and pagers were first aimed at physicians and other price-insensitive segments. Later, firms decided to target the more price-sensitive mass market. The diffusion of innovation refers to the tendency of new products, practices, or ideas to spread among people. Usually, when new products or ideas come about, they are only adopted by a small group of people initially; later, many innovations spread to other people.
The DIFFUSION PROCESS is the spread of an innovation from its source to the ultimate consumer that focuses on external forces. The saturation point is the maximum proportion of consumers likely to adopt a product.
Diffusion Process, Adopter Categories INNOVATORS - are first to buy and
typically described as venturesome, younger, well educated, financially stable, and willing to take risks.
EARLY ADOPTERS - are local opinion
leaders who read magazines and who are integrate into the social system more than the average consumer.
Diffusion Process, Adopter Categories EARLY MAJORITY - solid, middle-class
consumers who are more deliberate and cautious LATE MAJORITY - described as older, more
conservative, traditional, and skeptical of new products
Diffusion Process, Adopter Categories Laggards Resist change Conservative Like tradition Often older & lower in socioeconomic status
OK, we will buy X. If I have to buy it I will.
Non adopters Refuse to change No way!
Diffusion of innovation research traces the spread of product acceptance across its product life cycle Market Introduction
Market Growth
Market Maturity
Sales Decline
Total Industry Sales + Total Industry Profit
$0
Tim e
– Stage customers: Early Adopters
Early Majority
Majority
Laggards
Characteristics That Encourage and Discourage Diffusion Encourage 1. Relative 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
advantage Compatibility with past usage Simplicity of use Observability Trialability Divisibility
Discourage 1. Value barrier 2. Usage barrier 3. Complexity 4. Risk barrier
Communication in the Diffusion Process 1.
Trickle Up and Trickle Down
The transmission of influence between socioeconomic groups can be described as a trickle-down process from higher to lower groups (the traditional view) or a trickle-up process. Occasionally, a trickle-up direction occurs. For example, innovators and early adopters of jeans and of bluegrass and rock music were those in lower socioeconomic classes. 2. Trickle Across
Since the post World War II period, a leveling effect in socioeconomic status has occurred which makes trickle-down or up effects less relevant. Mass media now communicate information on innovations to all classes. A more likely process of diffusion is one that occurs across groups, regardless of socioeconomic status, known as a trickle-across effect.
Diffusion in organizations TWO TYPES OF INNOVATION-DECISIONS
collective innovation decisions Authority innovation decisions
Communication Flows Two-Step Flow of Communication COMPANY MESSAGE
OPINION LEADERS
TARGET AUDIENCES
■
OBSERVABILITY - is the opportunity for buyers to see the newness (+)
(Field test ..
Characteristics of New Product Success ② Compatibility with existing habits, values
and consumption behavior, similar usage as existing products
COMPLEXITY - is a disadvantage for new products which slows diffusion and may be offset by simplifying usage or through extensive education
Why Some New Products Fail and Others Succeed
80 to 90% Fail. Why?
1. Performance & Price
New product failures generally offer the same or worse performance … than competing products with … the same or higher price 2. Inadequate Market Analysis
New Product Success
• Offer a unique benefit (a differential advantage) • Solve a consumers problem or provide an opportunity, a reward
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