WAVING HELLO OR WAVING GOOD‐BYE? ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE IN THE INFORMATION AGE

Emerald - Tập 6 Số 1 - Trang 65-90 - 1998
Gavin M.Schwarz1, David M.Brock2
1University of Queensland, Australia
2University of Auckland, New Zealand

Tóm tắt

Organizational change in an evolving technological age is reconsidered here. Extant organization theory focuses largely on technologically‐induced transformation. This paper argues that this focus is inappropriate. With the proliferation of information technology in the workplace, change literature propounds a particular view of the organization: a lean, flat and networked organization. Reevaluating future change and future shock literature prediction, we establish a more realistic account of technology and the organization and question the accuracy of the “altered organization” expectation. In developing a conceptualization of a “limited reality of change,” we imply that predicted changes are not as clear cut as certain proponents would have us believe. Though there is a willingness throughout technology change literature to slip into the language of organizational transformation, this paper indicates that the reality of change is far more restrictive than has largely been previously acknowledged We conclude by proposing the coexistent organization as an alternative—arguing that hierarchical organizational forms can coexist with a networked organization—and discuss implications for organization change theory.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

Allen T. J., 1994, Information technology and the corporation of the 1990's: Research studies, 10.1093/oso/9780195068061.001.0001

Applegate L. M., 1994, R. Baskerville, S. Smithson, O. Ngwenyama, & J. I. DeGross (Eds.), Transforming organizations with information technology (pp. 15-94).

Argyris C., 1970, Innovation, 11, 28

10.2307/2392767

10.1057/ejis.1995.8

Benjamin R. I., 1993, Sloan Management Review, 34, 23

Bernstein R. J., 1978, The restructuring of social and political theory

Bhaskar R., 1979, The possibility of naturalism

10.2307/249735

10.2307/2391876

Chalykoff J., 1994, T. J. Allen & M, 388

Chandler A. D., 1962, Strategy and structure

Ciborra C. U., 1994, R. Baskerville, S. Smithson, O. Ngwenyama, & J. I. DeGross (Eds.), Transforming organizations with information technology (pp. 97-111).

10.1145/175222.175226

10.1108/01425459110006723

Coy P., Business Week, 8

Crowston K., 1994, Information technology and the corporation of the 1990s: Research studies (pp. 249-275).

Delisi P. S., 1990, Sloan Management Review, 32, 83

10.1111/j.1468-005X.1993.tb00030.x

Drucker P., 1988, Harvard Business Review, 66, 45

10.2307/249093

10.2307/256078

Galbraith J. R., 1993, J. R. Galbraith & E, 43

Giddens A., 1976, New rules of sociological method

10.1007/978-1-349-16161-4

Heckscher C., 1994, C. Heckscher & A, 1

Hodson R., 1988, Research in the Sociology of Work, 4, 1

10.4135/9781483325385.n11

Jaques E., 1990, Harvard Business Review, 68, 127

Jones P. V., 1994, Business Quarterly, 58, 80

Jonsher C., 1994, T. J. Allen & M, 5

Katz D., 1978, The social psychology of organizations

Kaufman H., 1971, The limits of organizational change

Keyes J., Infotrends: The competitive use of information

Leavitt H., 1958, Harvard Business Review, 36, 41

Malone T., 1994, T. J. Allen & M, 61

10.1145/214762.214766

10.2307/2390779

10.1287/mnsc.34.5.583

McKenney J., 1995, Waves of change: Business evolution through information technology

Mowshowitz A., 1976, The conquest of will: Information processing in human affairs

10.1287/orsc.3.3.398

10.1287/isre.2.2.143

Perrow C., Complex organizations: A critical essay

10.2307/1388934

Piore M. J., 1994, T. J. Allen & M, 43

Porter M. E., 1985, Harvard Business Review, 85, 149

Rice R., 1980, Annual renew ofinformation science and technology (Vol. 15, 221

10.1287/inte.14.1.84

Rockart J. F., 1991, The corporation of the 1990s: Information technology and organizational transformation (pp. 189-219).

Scharek P., 1975, E. Grochla & N, 197

Schein E., 1992, Organizational culture and leadership, 2

Schein E., 1994, T. J. Allen & M, 125

Schwarz G. M., 1995, Information in formation: A study of information technology in the organization. Unpublished master's thesis

Scott R. W., 1990, P. S. Goodman & L, 109

Scott Morton M. S., 1991, The corporation of the 1990's: Information technology and organizational transformation

10.1016/S0167-5419(89)80004-3

Sherman S., 1993, Fortune International, 128, 15

Stinchcombe A., 1965, Handbook oforganizations (pp. 142-93).

Tapscott D., 1993, Paradigm shift: Thenew promise of information technology

10.1111/j.1468-005X.1994.tb00050.x

Toffler A., 1990, Powershift: Knowledge, wealth and violence in the 21st century

Whisler T., The impact ofcomputers on organizations

10.1002/smj.4250110305

Yates J., 1991, The Corporation of the 1990's: Information technology and organizational transformation (pp. 61-92).

Zuboff S., 1989, the age of the smart machine: The future of work and power