The Consequences of Innovations
The consequences of innovations are the main subject matter of this chapter. These are the changes which take place on a person or a social system when there is either an adoption of an innovation or a rejection of the same. Diffusion researchers have not been giving the issue of consequences the weight that it deserves. Only a few case studies have been able to provide researchers with information about the consequences of innovation. This chapter mainly categorizes that are used to classify the consequences of innovation, but does not explicitly state the time, the manner and place where such consequences will occur (Rogers, 436).
Studying Consequences
Studying consequences involves the comprehension of the way change agencies affect the innovation and these consequences, but this has not been effective due to several reasons. A change agency often sponsors the diffusion research and mainly assumes that people or clients need a certain innovation (Rogers, 440). Change agents are required to know their responsibility for the consequences of an innovation by being in a position to predict whether the innovation has advantages or disadvantages to the intended clients or people. Research methods that are not always appropriate in investigating the consequences of an innovation have also been accused of been liable for the negativities that come with certain innovations. The consequences of innovation are often hard to measure at the beginning of adoption as the individuals who are involved are not fully aware of everything concerning the innovation.
Classification of Consequences
The classification of the consequences of innovation comes in many ways (Rogers, 442). Desirable consequences are defined as the functional impacts of an innovation for a social system or an individual. Conversely, the undesirable consequences are dysfunctional impacts of the innovation to those who adopt or reject it. The determination of the category of an innovation with regards to desirable and undesirable conceptualization depends on how such an innovation influencers the adopters. It must be realized that an innovation is able to affect not only its adopters but also other individuals. Direct consequences are those that happen as an immediate response to adopting an innovation. Indirect consequences are those that happen when a direct consequence has already happened and are as a result of the same.
Form, Function, and Meaning
Form, function as well as the meaning of an innovation also determines the type of consequence that occurs (Rogers, 451). Function can be defined as what contribution an innovation brings into the life of an individual or the social system. Form is defined as the qualities or the features that can be directly observed on an innovation or substance of innovation. The meaning is the often unconscious perception of innovation and is entirely subjective. Due to the manner in which meaning is subjective, unlike form and function, it becomes less susceptible to diffusion than them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, according to the chapter, consequences are deemed to be the changes that happen to a social system or an individual due to the people rejecting or adopting an innovation. The chapter has elaborated on the fact that consequences have not been as widely studied as other aspects of innovation. The author of the book goes ahead to asset that one main objective of diffusion programs is to increase the threshold of good in a social system and to make such good to be enjoyed by all members of that system.
Work Cited
Rogers, Everett M. Diffusion of innovations. Simon and Schuster, 2010.
