Diffusion and Adoption: the Lessons of Experience

Abstract

This chapter comprises an analysis of project case-study material, with the aim of isolating the main factors that seem to account for the cases of success as well as of failure in the diffusion and adoption of improved rural technologies. The focus is on upgraded versions of traditional technologies, though a few cases fall into one or other of the alternative categories (namely, downscaling and replacement investment) described in Chapter 1. Even with this somewhat limited focus, however, the data set does not purport to be inclusive of all relevant experience. Rather, it should be viewed as the outcome of a brief, but intensive survey of the English-language literature conducted mostly during 1984.