An adoption mindset
The Change Network is designed to help change agents cultivate an “adoption mindset”. An adoption mindset promotes new practices that are not only feasible, as demonstrated by positive research results, but are also seen as acceptable to producers. New practices are considered acceptable by producers when they perceive both relative advantage and a way of implementing them within their business.
An adoption mindset also means we are evidence, not opinion, based in our approach. We should always seek to quantify what producers do (current practice) and why. This enables us to identify practices that are relevant and useful to different producer cohorts and ensure we are taking a “problem pull” not “solution push” to adoption.
Our primary role as changes agents is to support producers as they navigate change. An adoption mindset maintains our focus on helping producers make informed decisions about practices that could benefit their business.
The Change Network encourages you to share your thoughts and ideas around adoption and engage in conversation with other extension professionals. Our community is drawn from different disciplines including communication, engagement, education, economics, social research, and data analytics. This network, together with the associated adoption resources, will help you develop techniques and methods in adoption planning, ensuring your approach to effecting change is strategic and systematic.
Ultimately, The Change Network aims to prime you for a successful and fulfilling career as an agricultural change agent by helping you do extension better and make a constructive contribution to Australian agriculture.
