ABSTRACT
This chapter is designed to provide the theoretical foundations of technology diffusion. It discusses selected models of technology (innovation) diffusion and traces its intellectual and conceptual foundations. This chapter also explains the network effects (externalities) which are closely related to the process of technology diffusion. It also put the technology diffusion into wide social and economic context. Next in this chapter, it is presented the novel methodological approach to identification of the ‘critical mass’ and ‘technological take-off’, which are recognized as prerequisites of rapid technology diffusion.
