Abstract
Many researchers have investigated and speculated about the link between information technology and organizational structure with very mixed results. This paper suggests that part of the reason for these mixed results is the coarseness of previous analyses of both technology and structure. The paper describes a new and much more detailed perspective for investigating this link. Using concepts of object-oriented programming from artificial intelligence, the information processing that occurs in organizations is characterized in terms of the kinds of messages people exchange and the ways they process those messages. The utility of this approach is demonstrated through the analysis of a case in which a reduction in levels of management is coupled with the introduction of a computer conferencing system. The detailed model developed for this case helps explain both macro-level data about the changes in the organizational structure, and micro-level data about individuals' use of the system.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages | 43-61 |
Number of pages | 19 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 3 1986 |
Externally published | Yes |
Event | 1986 ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work, CSCW 1986 - Austin, United States Duration: Dec 3 1986 → Dec 5 1986 |
Other
Other | 1986 ACM Conference on Computer-Supported Cooperative Work, CSCW 1986 |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | Austin |
Period | 12/3/86 → 12/5/86 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Software
- Computer Networks and Communications
- Human-Computer Interaction