Will It Work Here? Will It Work Here? A Decisionmaker's Guide to Adopting InnovationsA Decisionmaker's Guide to Adopting Innovations

Amy Roussel, PhD, Program Director, RTI International – Presenter

Cindy Brach, M.P.P., Senior Health Policy Researcher, AHRQ – Presenter

Polling Question 1Polling Question 1

I am a(n):I am a(n):

a. Innovatora. Innovator b. Change Agentb. Change Agent c. Experienced Adopterc. Experienced Adopter d. Potential Adopterd. Potential Adopter e. Researchere. Researcher

Polling Question 2Polling Question 2

How familiar are you with the Innovations How familiar are you with the Innovations Exchange?Exchange?

Very familiarVery familiar Somewhat familiarSomewhat familiar Not at all familiarNot at all familiar

DefinitionsDefinitions

Innovation: A new way of doing thingsInnovation: A new way of doing things Adoption: The decision to take up an Adoption: The decision to take up an

innovation that was developed innovation that was developed elsewhereelsewhere

Implementation: Putting that innovation Implementation: Putting that innovation into practiceinto practice

Conceptual FrameworkConceptual Framework

Started with Rogers (Diffusion of Started with Rogers (Diffusion of Innovations):Innovations):– ObservabilityObservability– Relative advantage Relative advantage – Compatibility Compatibility – ComplexityComplexity– TrialabilityTrialability

Modifying Rogers’ FrameworkModifying Rogers’ Framework

Adoption as a process, not an eventAdoption as a process, not an event Focus on adopting organization, not Focus on adopting organization, not

individual personindividual person Core attributes involve fit between Core attributes involve fit between

innovation and organization, not innovation and organization, not inherent in innovation itselfinherent in innovation itself

The Real WorldThe Real World

Telephone interviews with 13 innovation Telephone interviews with 13 innovation adopters adopters – Variety of settings and innovationsVariety of settings and innovations

In-depth case studies of 4 organizationsIn-depth case studies of 4 organizations– Variety, againVariety, again

– Asked about failuresAsked about failures

User testingUser testing– Round 1 – 7 testersRound 1 – 7 testers

– Round 2 – 6 testersRound 2 – 6 testers

Polling Question 3Polling Question 3

What aspect of the innovation adoption decision What aspect of the innovation adoption decision process is the most challenging for you in the process is the most challenging for you in the VA?VA?

Finding a championFinding a champion Identifying expected benefitsIdentifying expected benefits Assessing capacityAssessing capacity Assessing compatibility with our organizationAssessing compatibility with our organization Making a business caseMaking a business case Assessing readiness for changeAssessing readiness for change