What follows is a short series of at least 5 posts.  Each will focus on one aspect of what it takes to adopt social learning / media within an organization as well as with customers and prospects.

The information is taken from the book Diffusion of Innovations by Everett M. Rogers and then applied to social learning.  This is one of THE books, in my estimation, which will help the most when trying to help others adopt anything – technology, a new culture, processes, even hybrid corn in Iowa.  A fabulous read.  If you don’t have it, get it.

The five principles of adoption are:

1. 1) Relative Advantage
2. 2) Compatibility
3. 3) Complexity
4. 4) Trialability
5. 5) Observability

These posts talk about AFTER the sale and implementation.  (Although these things should be taken into consideration BEFORE all of that.) These posts answer the question,

“Now that we have it there, how do we get them to use it?”

Because – trust me – just because it is there DOES NOT mean that it will be used.

Again, this question should be part of a strategy long before implementation and should be constantly re-examined during and after.