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Cluster‐based diffusion: aggregate and disaggregate level modeling

Yogendra Kumar (Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India)
Runa Sarkar (Department of Industrial and Management Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, India)
Sanjeev Swami (Department of Management, DEI (Deemed University), Agra, India)

Journal of Advances in Management Research

ISSN: 0972-7981

Article publication date: 3 April 2009

828

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a modeling approach for aggregate and disaggregate level models for cluster‐based diffusion of a new technology. The aggregate approach refers to the diffusion modeling of a product at the overall population level, while the disaggregate approach refers to the diffusion process at the individual entity level.

Design/methodology/approach

The pattern of diffusion of a new technology in a representative two‐cluster situation is studied. In the aggregate level modeling, a diffusion model is developed in which potential adopters of both clusters learn about the new technology from each other. This is done by a Lotka‐Volterra type of dynamical system of equations. Then, to focus on relatively micro‐level phenomena, such as different propensities of imitation and innovation of firms within a cluster, an agent‐based disaggregate model for cluster‐based diffusion of technology is proposed. In these disaggregate models, the effects of heterogeneity and the inter‐cluster and intra‐cluster distances between the agents are captured.

Findings

The results highlight two major points: first, both aggregate and disaggregate models are in agreement with each other, and second, both of the models exhibit a form similar to the Bass model. Thus, consistent with the general theme of why the Bass model fits without decision variables, it is found that the Bass model, when extended appropriately, can be expected to work well also in the cluster‐based technology diffusion situation.

Practical implications

This modeling approach can be applied to the modeling of those situations in which heterogeneous industrial units are present in geographical clusters. It can also be applied in the related contexts such as diffusion of practices (e.g. quality certifications) within a multi‐divisional organization or across various networked clusters.

Originality/value

For a homogenous population, the Bass model has been used extensively to predict the sales of newly introduced consumer durables. In comparison, little attention has been given to the modeling of the technology adoption by the industrial units present in disparate groups, called clusters. The major contribution of this paper is to propose a framework for cluster‐based diffusion of technological products, and then to present an analysis of that framework using two different methodologies.

Keywords

Citation

Kumar, Y., Sarkar, R. and Swami, S. (2009), "Cluster‐based diffusion: aggregate and disaggregate level modeling", Journal of Advances in Management Research, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 8-26. https://doi.org/10.1108/09727980910972145

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2009, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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