No. 201 · Strategy · Systems
Technology Adoption Lifecycle
People take up new things at different speeds, and each group needs a different reason to join.
In the Almanac
“The first smartphones”, 2007–2016 · “Tesla”, 2006–2017
Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.
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Questions
What is Technology Adoption Lifecycle?
The Technology Adoption Lifecycle divides adopters into five groups: Innovators, Early Adopters, Early Majority, Late Majority, and Laggards. Smartphones followed this wave, and companies like Tesla rode it by starting with premium products for early adopters before moving to the mass market.
How do you use Technology Adoption Lifecycle?
Use it to time your own adoption: wait for the early majority if you value reliability over novelty. Notice where your industry and skills sit on the curve to stay relevant. And when introducing a new idea, tailor your pitch to whether your audience embraces or resists change.
When does Technology Adoption Lifecycle matter?
Technology Adoption Lifecycle is one of the 56 mental models for strategy, the situations where you ask: How do I win when others want the same thing? Within that, it belongs to “How markets grow and tip”, alongside Crossing the Chasm, First Mover Advantage and Flywheel.
What is an example of Technology Adoption Lifecycle?
Two stories show it at work: The first smartphones (2007–2016) and Tesla (2006–2017). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.
Which mental models are related to Technology Adoption Lifecycle?
Crossing the Chasm, S-Curves and Social Proof. Technology Adoption Lifecycle itself comes from systems.