Information technology and organizational change: Causal structure in theory and research
From AcaWiki
Citation: M. Lynne Markus, Daniel Robey (1988) Information technology and organizational change: Causal structure in theory and research. Management Science (RSS)
Tagged:
Summary:
Markus and Robey's article tries to unpack and compare the logical structure of different theories from Information Systems research. He breaks it down into three core dimensions: Causal Agency, Logical Structure and Level of Analysis.
The authors suggest there are three approaches to causal agency:
- Technological imperative: The inner logic of technological systems determine organization structure.
- Organization imperative: Information systems are created to fit organizational needs.
- Emergent: Neither or both of the previous system. For example, work that shows that similar dynamics can result in different structure.
Logical structure:
- Variance theories: Theories that suggest that precursors are necessary and sufficiently similar and that we can understand causal relationships between precursers and outcomes.
- Process: That that suggest that outcomes are partially predictable from a knowledge of a process and not from variables alone.
Level of analysis:
- Macro level: Theories focusing on organization or society.
- Micro level: Theories focusing on individuals within organizations.
