An evolutionary perspective on adoption-diffusion theory

Mario Gruber

Journal of Business Research, 2020, vol. 116, issue C, 535-541

Abstract: Innovations increasingly comprise combinations of different technologies, institutions, and user behaviors that interdepend and co-evolve. Accordingly, extant adoption-diffusion theories – based on variance and process approaches – are increasingly limited in explaining or enabling understanding of the adoption and diffusion of radical, system-dependent innovations, such as electric mobility. Drawing on the multi-level perspective, an evolutionary system-approach theory, this article first identifies the limitations of extant adoption-diffusion theories. It then uses this perspective to propose an understanding of innovation adoption and diffusion that accounts for factors and developments beyond extant theories’ typical focus. In particular, it highlights the evolutionary elements, such as co-evolution and whole system behavior, that should be considered for radical innovations, whose adoption and diffusion depend on co-evolving user preferences, technology, and policy. Overall, the article presents how the evolutionary perspective can enable researchers to better understand adoption and diffusion and incorporate adaptations of theory in future research.

Keywords: Adoption; Diffusion; Radical; Multi-level perspective (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296320301302
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:116:y:2020:i:c:p:535-541

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.02.024

Access Statistics for this article

Journal of Business Research is currently edited by A. G. Woodside

More articles in Journal of Business Research from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().