Originally posted on February 10, 2011 by Brian Beatty In most social organizations there is a small group of people who simply refuse to change their practices from the way they’ve always done something, even when the majority of their “peers” have adopted a new way. This group is the non-adopters, “Laggards” or “Skeptics,” and most of them will […]

Originally posted on February 4, 2011 by Brian Beatty The second, and last, majority group in most social organizations to adopt an innovation is called the “Late Majority.” You’ve probably heard the term “better late than never,” and that perfectly describes this group’s adoption timing. Late majority adopters are often the more conservative people in the organization, at […]

Originally posted on January 25, 2011 by Brian Beatty The adoption of an innovative practice within a social system begins with the initial “discovery” or development of a new way to do things that adds value to an organization. The “First Adopters” fulfill the role of explorers, finding new ways to carry out the core practices of the […]

Originally posted on January 18, 2011 by Brian Beatty In my previous post I described the role of “First Adopters” – the techies – in the diffusion of innovation process applied to HyFlex teaching and learning. Their role is to find new ways to help students learn and faculty teach, with or without technology, without much regard to […]

Originally posted on January 13, 2011 by Brian Beatty The first people in your organization to adopt an innovative practice like HyFlex would fall into the “First Adopter” (or “Innovator”) category of Rogers’ Diffusion of Innovations conceptual model. In the world of technology, we might call these people “Techies.” (You may want to read Crossing the Chasm, by Geoffrey Moore […]