Editing Innovation (section)

==Diffusion==
{{main|Diffusion of innovations}}
[[File:InnovationLifeCycle.jpg|thumb|right]]

Diffusion of innovation research was first started in 1903 by seminal researcher [[Gabriel Tarde]], who first plotted the S-shaped [[diffusion curve]]. Tarde defined the innovation-decision process as a series of steps that include:<ref>Tarde, G. (1903). ''The laws of imitation'' (E. Clews Parsons, Trans.). New York: H. Holt & Co.</ref>
# knowledge
# forming an attitude
# a decision to adopt or reject
# implementation and use
# confirmation of the decision

Once innovation occurs, innovations may be spread from the innovator to other individuals and groups. This process has been proposed that the lifecycle of innovations can be described using the '[[Sigmoid function|s-curve]]' or [[Diffusion of innovations|diffusion curve]]. The s-curve maps growth of revenue or productivity against time. In the early stage of a particular innovation, growth is relatively slow as the new product establishes itself. At some point, customers begin to demand and the product growth increases more rapidly. New incremental innovations or changes to the product allow growth to continue. Towards the end of its lifecycle, growth slows and may even begin to decline. In the later stages, no amount of new investment in that product will yield a normal rate of return.

[[File:Technology adoption by households in the U.S.svg|thumb|Innovation adoption<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wisdom |first1=Jennifer P. |last2=Chor |first2=Ka Ho Brian |last3=Hoagwood |first3=Kimberly E. |last4=Horwitz |first4=Sarah M. |title=Innovation Adoption: A Review of Theories and Constructs |journal=Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research |date=1 July 2014 |volume=41 |issue=4 |pages=480–502 |doi=10.1007/s10488-013-0486-4 |pmid=23549911 |pmc=3894251 |language=en |issn=1573-3289}}</ref> of several common household items in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |title=Share of United States households using specific technologies |url=https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/technology-adoption-by-households-in-the-united-states |access-date=1 April 2025}}</ref> ([[c:Category:Technology adoption statistics|more charts]])]]
The s-curve derives from an assumption that new products are likely to have "product life" – i.e., a start-up phase, a rapid increase in revenue and eventual decline. In fact, the great majority of innovations never get off the bottom of the curve, and never produce normal returns.

Innovative companies will typically be working on new innovations that will eventually replace older ones. Successive s-curves will come along to replace older ones and continue to drive growth upwards. In the figure above the first curve shows a current technology. The second shows an [[emerging technologies|emerging technology]] that currently yields lower growth but will eventually overtake current technology and lead to even greater levels of growth. The length of life will depend on many factors.<ref>Rogers, E. M. (1962). ''Diffusion of Innovation''. New York, NY: Free Press.</ref>