Diffusion innovation theory developed by E.M Rodgers is a social science theory originating in communication. It tends to explain how products gain momentum and spread over a certain social system. I learned about the shopping cart with a calculator to control your budget through mass communication. Television stations and radio channels advertisements air this kind of innovation frequently over a certain period (Carreiro & Oliveira 2019). Many adverts within the mass media air the kind of innovation over regular breaks.

Having employed the innovation to a distinct degree, I see myself at the decision stage of the innovation. I am still weighing both the advantages and disadvantages of the innovation to decide whether to adopt or reject the innovation fully. Insufficient publicity and the concept of change make it difficult to proceed further. Many people are used to the facts of just shopping without controlling their budgets.

With the available evidence, I haven’t reached the confirmation stage. Reaching the last stage of the innovation proves to be difficult because of many obstacles. First, the innovation lacks clear background information. Most shoppers are unaware of the existence of such an innovation. The innovation fails to persuade the general public about its long-term usefulness. Also, the concept of adopting a trolley with a calculator to control your budget seems to be a change that the general public will not adapt easily.

I might discontinue the use of the innovation for various reasons. To begin with, the lack of the innovation mind set to solve the innovation problem. The fear of failing after spending a considerable number of resources and time also plays a major role. Lack of support in budgetary allocations and the existence of calculators even in mobile phones proves difficult for the innovation to be a success. The limited budget might not see the completion of the innovation. Lastly, the lack of driven motivation from the team makes it hard to steer the shopping cart with calculator to new levels.

I see myself in the early adopter’s category, with the immense education and knowledge about different innovations and the necessary skills and experience to make the innovation successful. The high range of differentiating opinions makes me fully fit in the adopter’s category. Different opinions from the team make it easier in decision-making. With my young and prime age, the dedication and willingness to succeed in innovation fits the early adopter’s category. Another reason why I see myself in the category is the social status I possess. Lastly, the availability of enough financial liquidity to see the innovation through places me in the category.

When I began to use the technology, I was in the innovator’s category. Reasons being at the beginning, I was willing to take risks without overlooking the consequences. The availability of enough financial resources absorbed the fear of failure. I could have fallen into a different category. It is much easier to take the acquired skills and lessons from different technologies and apply them in a different market. This innovation could have placed me in the late majority category.

Another technology innovation that I’m using now is Amazon Eco. As we all know that this smart speaker responds to the voice command using Alexa. I would consider myself as a late majority because I bought it recently after the average participant. And I was also in contact with my close friends and families about feedback of this device before I bought it. This device helps me to notify about my Amazon shipping information, to control TV and lights, to deliver news and weather without touching it.

References

Carreiro, H., & Oliveira, T. (2019). Impact of transformational leadership on the diffusion of innovation in firms: Application to mobile cloud computing. Computers in Industry, 107, 104-113. 10.1016/j.compind.2019.02.006

Raynard, M. (2017). Understanding academic e-books through the diffusion of innovations theory as a basis for developing effective marketing and educational strategies. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 43(1), 82-86. 10.1016/j.acalib.2016.08.011

Scott, S., & McGuire, J. (2017). Using Diffusion of Innovation Theory to Promote Universally Designed College Instruction. International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, 29(1), 119-128. 10.4018/978-1-61350-080-4.ch021