Innovation and Diffusion of Technology: A Human Process

In this article, I argue that the overarching problem in the innovation and diffusion of technology is that efforts to introduce computer systems and advanced telecommunications fail because technical experts and managers ignore the underlying psychological dynamics of organizational change. A brief case is presented that illustrates this common problem in technology transfer: the failure to recognize change and innovation as a human process and the consequential resistance to change and learning (Diamond, 1993), which is combined with workers' anger and resentment at the 'experts' and the technical manner in which the innovation is introduced. After discussing some of the contributing factors to this problem, I present the concept of organizational resilience as a description of the ideal context for innovation and diffusion of technology - a transitional space from which ideas and technologies can be tested and critically examined for their appropriateness and relevance to practice.'