Relationship between Technology and Organizational Structures: Empirical Truth or Theoreticians' Wishful Thinking

摘要

This research note reviews and analyzes the results of 34 empirical studies of technology-structure relationships. Previous reviewers have concluded that the across-study variation among sample correlations is attributable to differences in definition of technology, unit of analysis, and measurement strategy. These reviewers did not examine three theoretically important explanations for the mixed results: differences in 1) organizational size, 2) degree of professionalization, and 3) organizational sector. Meta-analyses indicate that these previously unexamined explanations are important for understanding the technology-structure relationship. Keywords: Correlation techniques; Technology forecasting; Management planning and control. (kr)