ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Environmentafla ctors may also have a great influence on the
diffusiono f innovations.O rganizationth eorists have given
increasing attention tothe environment in which an organization
functions. Organizationso btainv ariousi nputsf rom their environments,
process them, and feed back finished products. At
the same time the surroundings place many demands on
organizationsS. chool districtsi n particulaar re susceptible to the
influence of their various clients (Bidwell, 1965; Sieber, 1968).
The educationalt raditiono f communityi nterest and influence
continues and has been reinforced by the community-control
movement of social programs such as community mental
health and economic opportunityp rojects.
Relation of environment to innovation. Environmentavl ariabilityp
rovidesp ervasive stimulit o the organizationI. na rapidly
changing environment expectations increase faster than the
services offered and demands for services outrun the ability to
pay for them. A more heterogeneous environment with a varied
clientele demands diverse services, so there is greater competition
for scarce resources from the more fragmented
socioeconomic and demographic forces. Increased uncertainty
and diversity encourage the adoption of innovations. The
character of the client population served determines