Odum's concept of the Technicways: Some reflections on an underdeveloped sociological notion

Almost half a century ago, Howard W. Odum introduced the concept of the technicways. It was intended that this concept would provide a normative perspective of various social processes additional to those afforded by the folkways and mores. Unfortunately, Dr. Odum's notion did not excite the imagination of sociologists at the time, with the result that the concept of the technicways fell into disuse, and has largely been neglected, if not ignored, since then. Odum used the term to refer to normative behavior patterns that arise in response to innovations or grow out of new technological processes. The concept of technicways is explored in detail with special reference to its analytical utility as well as its conceptual shortcomings. Odum's technicways would seem to be a very relevant concept for today in that sociologists need to be able to accurately understand the complex dynamics of accelerating social and technological change and the subtle nuances of the attendant social impact and import. The concept of the technicways would appear to appropriately identify and implicitly describe such a complex social phenomenon in a parsimonious fashion.