An Overview of Six Useful Innovation Adoption Models

Innovation adoption is a leading priority for CEOs: more than 70% list it as one of their top three areas of focus. Yet only 16% of companies we’ve surveyed believe that they have identified the best innovation adoption models for their industry or situation.

What’s causing this problem? In our experience, high-tech business leaders typically fall short for one of two reasons. Either they pursue the wrong innovation-adoption models for their business and competitive context, or they don’t have the internal skillsets to execute in all areas that the model requires.

Choosing the right innovation model for your company is all about context. Industry context matters because only a subset of models can succeed in most industries.

Additional Resources

Concerns-Based Adoption Model

The Concerns-Based Adoption Model approaches innovation adoption from the perspective of those impacted by the adoption of the innovation and also charged with implementing the subsequent change – namely teachers in an educational context.

Technology Acceptance Model

The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) asserts that the adopter’s attitude and expectations of the innovation affect the chances for its adoption. It focuses on how the innovation is perceived, related to ease of use.

The Chocolate Model

The Chocolate Model focuses on innovation adoption and change related to an organization.  It is structured around four elements: change, adopters, the change agent(s), and the organization. Each element is inter-related with the others.

Theory of Planned Behavior

The Theory of Planned Behavior is a psychological theory that links beliefs to behavior. The theory maintains that three core components, namely, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, together shape an individual’s behavioral intentions. 

Theory of Task-Technology Fit

Task-Technology Fit (TTF) assumes that a good fit between task and technology will increase the likelihood of utilization and also increase the performance impact since the technology meets the task needs and wants of users.

The Low Risk Recipe (LRR)

Everett Rogers identified 5 characteristics that make innovations much more likely to succeed. The Low Risk Recipe identifies 7 additional characteristics that, along with those prescribed by Rogers, dramatically improves innovation success.