A study of the diffusion & adoption of the concept of smoke control in the U.K. and U.S.A

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the diffusion and adoption of smoke control in the U.K. and the U.SA. In relation to the traditional Innovation Diffusion Adoption paradigm. The concept of smoke control as a method of public safety and building protection has been in existence in some form since the 19th Century. The generic term 'smoke control' covers any technique for dealing with smokey gases and protecting means of escape from buildings in the event of a fire. Much of the research to date in Innovation Diffusion and Adoption has been in the consumer field and/or on a small scale i.e. spatially, product or project specific. The research conducted for this thesis is industry wide and as such is a useful extension of the many research projects in this field of study. The diffusion and adoption of the concept of smoke control was found to follow the traditional paradigm in its process particularly before legislation was introduced in England in 1972. In addition, statistical analysis of the results provided a skeletal framework for a profile of an organisation likely to adopt an innovation. The factors in this profile matched those developed in the traditional paradigm for individuals. Further development of this profile could provide a useful tool for companies involved in marketing innovations.