The Applicability and Utility of Fault Tree Analysis Prior to the Diffusion of a Technological Innovation in an Educational Setting

摘要

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the applicability and utility of Fault Tree Analysis in the diffusion of a technological innovation in a higher education setting. Diffusion of innovation literature suggests that the involvement of the intended users in the diffusion process will increase the subsequent use of the innovation. The educational literature has suggested there are six factors which inhibit or influence the use of technology in schools: time; expertise; access; resources; support (Leggett & Persichitte, 1998) and perceived need (Sherwood, 1999). By modifying the Fault Tree Analysis process to be more inclusive, it is theorized that the process will be both applicable and utile and that intended users of the technology in question will be more likely to successfully integrate the innovation into their educational milieu.