Diffusion of Innovations as a Theoretical Framework for Telecenters

Abstract

Local information and communication resource centers, usually called telecenters, are springing up in developing countries with the objective of bringing the beneªts of new communication technologies to the rural poor. Rural telecenters are calling the attention of academic and nonacademic researchers, but there is no theoretical framework to help understand the process of diffusion and adoption of these centers by the local communities. This paper uses diffusion theory to provide a conceptual framework for telecenter research and practice. After brieºy reviewing the core of the theory, this paper focuses on the three aspects of diffusion that are most pertinent for telecenter application: (1) the perceived attributes of innovations, (2) the communication aspects of the diffusion process, and (3) the consequences of innovation adoption. The paper concludes with a summary of the implications of diffusion theory for telecenter research. In establishing telecenters, as in other areas of what is conventionally called development, the priority is to make things happen. And to make things happen, practitioners think in terms of planning and strategies. This planning and implementation of strategic action often uses applied research methods, mostly for different evaluation purposes. But the word theory is almost never mentioned: telecenters appear as an atheoretical object of study. There are some relevant compilations of articles contain-ing telecenter case studies in different developing countries and analyses of telecenter issues (Colle and Roman 2001a; Gomez and Hunt 1999; Latchem and Walker 2001). These collections of papers are certainly use-ful for practitioners, policy makers, and academics, but generally they do not present theory-led research. Additionally, there is an increasing amount of scholarly articles about telecenters in developing countries be-ing published in specialized journals and books 1 (Blattman, Jensen, and Roman forthcoming; Colle 2000; Colle and Roman 2003; Falch and Anyimadu forthcoming; Maclay and Best 2001; Tschang, Chuladul, and Thu-Le 2002). Many of these articles study important aspects of telecenter development but lack a solid theoretical background. Therefore, no partic-ular conceptual model seems to guide telecenter planning, and no speciªc