Diffusion of Innovation and Conduct of a Business of a Small and Medium-sized Firm

Abstract

This study focuses upon an innovative industrial product that one of the smaller firms in Higashiosaka city developed. The aim of this paper is to clarify factors of blocking the diffusion of the industrial product (the PA13-A) which contributes to life support when disaster occurs. Next, from the result of interviews this research proposes a more effective way to enable its diffusion and make a business take off. If disaster occurs and the city gas line stops, ‘the PA13-A Gas Generator' will be able to keep on offering gas for people. There are achievements with the introduction of PA13-A in the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, the Niigata Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake and the Great Tohoku Japan Earthquake.