Google+Docs-+Critical+Mass+and+Change+Agents


 * Do you believe a centralized or decentralized approach would work best for the adoption of the innovation you are proposing to the Board of Directors? **

//Centralized and Decentralized Diffusion Systems (Rogers, 2003 p. 397)//

As Rogers explains in the above table, Diffusions systems are those that are micromanaged, all change occurs from the top (administration) down. The administration many times relies on the insight of field experts to determine whether or not to adopt an innovation. Also, many times these innovations are addressing needs that only became needs due to the innovation itself. In other words, the needs of the members of the system are not always reflected in the innovation adoption process.

This is the best approach when working in a large urban school district. School districts tend to be centralized, and in my case that is true. There is one central administration actually centrally located in the city) that runs the entire system. Top-down describes all decisions in the district.


 * Who will you recommend as key change agents in your organization, and how can the seven roles of a change agent be used in your organization to effect positive social change? **

In my district, the head change agents would be the Director of Educational Technology and her team. These are the people who decide what innovations to bring into the district. If these key change agents adhere to the seven roles of a change agent, we would see a lot of positive growth in our district. They do adhere to some of the roles and loosely to others. For example, the firs role is to "develop a need for change" (Rogers, 2003 p. 369). They do this by providing professional development that outlines the need before introducing the innovation. They have created an information exchange relationship and diagnosed problems. However one key component to each role seems to be missing: the reliance on the needs of the client. In the case of public education, the clients are the children. We work for them. Many times innovation adoption is based on the needs of the organization and administrators and not the children. If this changed, we would most certainly see positive social change.


 * Has the innovation you are proposing to the Board already met critical mass in society? If it has not met critical mass, which of the four strategies for achieving critical mass do you recommend to the Board for your innovation? **

I believe Google Docs has already met critical mass in society. Most places including higher education, suggest the members of their organizations use it.

Rogers, Everett M. (2003-08-05). Diffusion of Innovations, 5th Edition. Simon & Schuster, Inc.. Kindle Edition.