STRUCTURAL CONSTRAINTS ON COMMUNICATION - THE DIFFUSION OF THE HOMOMORPHIC SIGNAL ANALYSIS TECHNIQUE THROUGH SCIENTIFIC FIELDS

Within an organizational environment there are a variety of communication channels through which information can and does diffuse. One's view about the nature of information affects which type of communication channel is expected to be most effective for diffusion. Further, each type of communication channel defines a structure within the organization. In order to determine the relative impact of various communication channels on the diffusion of information within science the diffusion of a particular method, Homomorphic Signal Analysis, is explored relative to a set of organizational structures for the relevant scientific community. Findings include the following. Methods, as information, have a map rather than a grammatical production nature. Consequently, organizational structures that combine both shared knowledge and potential for interaction are most effective in the diffusion of methods. Generalist journals and the working connections between opinion leaders play dominant roles in the diffusion of methods. © 1990, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.