MENTAL MODEL · M4844

Diffusion of Innovations

SystemsHigh supportSystems Theory

Included

Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

The process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system. It is influenced by five factors: relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability. Innovations spread through interpersonal networks rather than mass media.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

The power of network effects. Innovation spreads not through advertising but through "word of mouth" (interpersonal networks). Find those "opinion leaders" or "early adopters" and make them your "viral seeds."

anchor

Anchor fast decisions

Proposed by Everett Rogers. Innovations diffuse through innovators → early adopters → early majority → late majority → laggards, following an S-curve; influenced by five attributes (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, observability), primarily through interpersonal networks rather than mass media. The mechanism is "social learning + threshold infection."

MINIMUM ACTION

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Practice this model in one real situation:

Identify the adoption stage and opinion leaders of the target group.
Enhance the five attributes (reduce complexity, increase trialability/observability).
Use early adopters' word of mouth to seed.
Monitor the S-curve inflection point to amplify promotion.

Check to track your progress (stored locally)

Learning progress0%

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Source support: Explicit

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en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_of_InnovationsZH · Explicit
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