Innovation Adoption Stages

A framework explaining how new technologies and innovations are adopted by different groups of people over time, based on their willingness to embrace new things.

The Innovation Adoption Curve Stages

• Innovators

  • First to try new things
  • Actually figure things out themselves
  • Take the most risk with new technology

• Early Adopters

  • Second wave of adoption
  • Quick to recognize value in new trends
  • Often influence others' adoption

• Early Majority

  • First part of the mainstream adoption
  • More cautious but still relatively quick to adopt
  • Represents a large chunk of eventual users

• Late Majority

  • Second part of mainstream adoption
  • More skeptical of new technologies
  • Wait until something is well-proven

• Laggards

  • Last to adopt new technologies
  • Highly resistant to change
  • Example: "people who still have AOL email addresses"

Learning From Being Wrong

• Common pattern of resistance:

  • Initially dismiss new technology
  • Have an ego about being right
  • Be wrong multiple times
  • Learn from mistakes
  • Become more open to innovation

• Real examples of being wrong:

  • iPhone: "Who would want to read tiny text or watch movies on this?"
  • Snapchat: "This is just for kids and inappropriate content"
  • Bitcoin: Dismissed in 2012-2013
  • Twitch: Initially skeptical about streaming

Strategy for Improvement

• Flip the script when seeing new technology
• Instead of dismissing, lean into curiosity
• Ask "What's making people want to do this?"
• Recognize patterns of previous successful innovations
• Build trust through consistently being early and right