Diffusion of Innovations in Organisations

During the past two decades, the world has witnessed a significant change in the nature of the technological and administrative practices and processes faced by organisations in different areas of their operations, such as manufacturing processes, operation technologies, and information systems (Shields, 1997). To keep pace with other competitors in the global market, organisations are keen to be able to use the best and the latest ideas, techniques, practices, and processes in different aspects of their activities. This has placed a greater emphasis on the diffusion of innovation as a solution to cope with the requirements of such changes. This view is consistent with systems approach theory that suggests that all parts of a system are related to each other, and any change in one part of a system may require the consideration of appropriate change(s) in other parts of the organisation, otherwise, the system may not work properly (Kellett & Sweeting, 1991). An overview of the diffusion of advanced techniques and the recognition of factors influencing the diffusion of such innovations is expected to facilitate the implementation of recently developed, advanced, and up-to-date techniques and practices in organisations. Given this, the current chapter explains a diffusion model applicable to studies investigating the diffusion of advanced techniques (both technological and administrative innovations). The model incorporates most of the innovation factors addressed in the diffusion and advanced techniques literature. An “advanced technique” is referred to as an innovation in this overview.