The Role of Technology in Models of Organizational Effectiveness.
Abstract
An operational definition of technology is developed and applied in the study, building from a typology of technologies proposed by J. D. Thompson. Analysis was conducted on 297 organization units (departments, divisions) from within a diverse sample of 17 business and industrial firms. The organization units were classified among three varieties of technology specified as long-linked, mediating and intensive technology respectively (following the J. D. Thompson typology). Direct and indirect relationships involving technology, 14 dimensions of organizational behavior, and organization unit effectiveness, were investigated in several analyses. The findings from these analyses support the hypothesis that the criteria of effectiveness are generally supportive of the variation expected from the Thompson theoretical analysis. No direct technology - organizational effectiveness relationship was observed, a finding which is in keeping with the expectations of the researchers. The models of organizational effectiveness observed within each of the three technology categories are described and the implications of their differences and similarities are discussed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1972
- Accession Number
- AD0747953
Entities
People
- Peter J. Frost
- Thomas A. Mahoney
Organizations
- University of Minnesota