Diffusion of innovations in practice
My journey from doctoral studies to industry leadership
By Dr Richard Dune
Image by FabrikaPhoto via Envato Elements
It was 2011, and I was diving into the vast ocean of doctoral studies, eager to explore uncharted waters. My academic voyage began with a simple library book – Everett Rogers' "Diffusion of Innovations." Borrowed on a whim, this seminal work became a cornerstone of my research and professional life. I quickly realised that the library copy wouldn't suffice; I needed my own to annotate, dog-ear, and revisit time and again.
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Doctoral studies - A deep dive into technology strategy
With Rogers' insights, I embarked on a mission to understand technology adoption within the UK's National Health Service (NHS). My doctoral thesis focused on implementing and utilising Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS). These systems, designed to aid healthcare professionals in decision-making, represented a significant innovation with the potential to transform patient care.
Through various case studies in the NHS, I had a front-row seat to the decision-making processes surrounding adopting these technologies. I witnessed firsthand how the stages of innovation diffusion – from knowledge and persuasion to decision, implementation, and confirmation – played out in real clinical settings. Although formulated in 1962, Rogers' theory proved timeless, offering a robust framework to analyse and understand these processes.
From academia to industry - Bridging theory and practice
Upon completing my PhD (in 2015), I was driven by a desire to put theory into practice. This led to the founding of our company, LearnPac Systems (trading as The Mandatory Training Group). We develop software solutions to support health and social care organisations and other heavily regulated sectors in building internal capacity for learning, development, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements.
Rogers' work continued to guide this new venture. Understanding the diffusion of innovations was crucial as we navigated the complexities of stakeholder engagement, adoption barriers, and the need for effective communication channels. Our software solutions are designed to meet compliance requirements, be user-friendly, and be widely adopted across diverse organisational cultures.
Image by DC_Studio via Envato Elements
Image by monkeybusiness via Envato Elements
Real-world applications - Success stories and lessons learned
In our journey, we've seen the diffusion theory of innovations come to life in myriad ways. For instance, when introducing a new compliance training module, we identified early adopters within organisations - enthusiastic and influential staff members who championed the new system. By leveraging their influence, we facilitated a smoother adoption curve, moving from early adopters to the early and late majority with minimal resistance.
Many notable success stories involve NHS trusts and independent healthcare providers, where we implemented comprehensive learning and development solutions integrated with their existing compliance and governance management system. By understanding their social systems and communication channels, we tailored our approaches to ensure maximum engagement. The results improved compliance rates and a more informed and empowered workforce.
Looking ahead - Continuing the journey
As I write this, I'm excited about the future and the endless possibilities for health and social care innovation. The principles of diffusion of innovations remain as relevant today as they were in Rogers' time. I aim to continue bridging the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that new technologies are developed and effectively integrated into organisations' daily operations.
Through my weekly column on our website (Dr Richard Dune’s Blog), I share insights, experiences, and practical strategies for the diffusion of innovations. From understanding the role of leadership in technology adoption to exploring the impact of collaborative innovation, each post will delve into a different facet of this dynamic field.
I invite you to join me on this journey as we explore how to harness the power of innovation to drive positive change and improve outcomes in highly regulated sectors. Together, we can navigate the complexities of innovation adoption and build a future where technology enhances every aspect of health and social care.
Stay tuned for more insights, and feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or visit my blog at www.mandatorytraining.co.uk for further discussion and updates.
Image by friends_stock via Envato Elements
About the author
Dr Richard Dune
With over 20 years of experience, Richard blends a rich background in NHS, the private sector, academia, and research settings. His forte lies in clinical R&D, advancing healthcare tech, workforce development and governance. His leadership ensures regulatory compliance and innovation align seamlessly.
Doctoral studies - A deep dive into technology strategy
Image by DC_Studio via Envato Elements
With Rogers' insights, I embarked on a mission to understand technology adoption within the UK's National Health Service (NHS). My doctoral thesis focused on implementing and utilising Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS). These systems, designed to aid healthcare professionals in decision-making, represented a significant innovation with the potential to transform patient care.
Through various case studies in the NHS, I had a front-row seat to the decision-making processes surrounding adopting these technologies. I witnessed firsthand how the stages of innovation diffusion – from knowledge and persuasion to decision, implementation, and confirmation – played out in real clinical settings. Although formulated in 1962, Rogers' theory proved timeless, offering a robust framework to analyse and understand these processes.
From academia to industry - Bridging theory and practice
Image by DC_Studio via Envato Elements
Upon completing my PhD (in 2015), I was driven by a desire to put theory into practice. This led to the founding of our company, LearnPac Systems (trading as The Mandatory Training Group). We develop software solutions to support health and social care organisations and other heavily regulated sectors in building internal capacity for learning, development, and compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements.
Rogers' work continued to guide this new venture. Understanding the diffusion of innovations was crucial as we navigated the complexities of stakeholder engagement, adoption barriers, and the need for effective communication channels. Our software solutions are designed to meet compliance requirements, be user-friendly, and be widely adopted across diverse organisational cultures.
Real-world applications - Success stories and lessons learned
Image by monkeybusiness via Envato Elements
In our journey, we've seen the diffusion theory of innovations come to life in myriad ways. For instance, when introducing a new compliance training module, we identified early adopters within organisations - enthusiastic and influential staff members who championed the new system. By leveraging their influence, we facilitated a smoother adoption curve, moving from early adopters to the early and late majority with minimal resistance.
Many notable success story involve NHS trusts and independent healthcare providers, where we implemented comprehensive learning and development solutions integrated with their existing compliance and governance management system. By understanding their social systems and communication channels, we tailored our approaches to ensure maximum engagement. The results improved compliance rates and a more informed and empowered workforce.
Looking ahead - Continuing the journey
Image by friends_stock via Envato Elements
As I write this, I'm excited about the future and the endless possibilities for health and social care innovation. The principles of diffusion of innovations remain as relevant today as they were in Rogers' time. I aim to continue bridging the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that new technologies are developed and effectively integrated into organisations' daily operations.
Through my weekly column on our website (Dr Richard Dune’s Blog), I share insights, experiences, and practical strategies for the diffusion of innovations. From understanding the role of leadership in technology adoption to exploring the impact of collaborative innovation, each post will delve into a different facet of this dynamic field.
I invite you to join me on this journey as we explore how to harness the power of innovation to drive positive change and improve outcomes in highly regulated sectors. Together, we can navigate the complexities of innovation adoption and build a future where technology enhances every aspect of health and social care.
Stay tuned for more insights, and feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or visit my blog at www.mandatorytraining.co.uk for further discussion and updates.
About the author
Dr Richard Dune
With over 20 years of experience, Richard blends a rich background in NHS, the private sector, academia, and research settings. His forte lies in clinical R&D, advancing healthcare tech, workforce development and governance. His leadership ensures regulatory compliance and innovation align seamlessly.
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