Diffusion of Innovations

Overview

Rogers' theory describes how innovations spread through a population in a predictable S-curve pattern, with five adopter categories that require different strategies. Moore's "Crossing the Chasm" extends this by identifying the critical gap between early adopters and the early majority.

Framework

IRON LAW: The Chasm Is Real — Early Adopters ≠ Mainstream

Visionaries (early adopters) buy because it's NEW and they can tolerate
imperfections. Pragmatists (early majority) buy because it WORKS and
others already use it. These are fundamentally different buyer psychologies.

Success with early adopters does NOT predict mainstream success.
The strategy that wins innovators will FAIL with the majority.