The role of individuals in the information processing perspective

• 成果类型: Review
• 署名作者: Turner, Karynne L.; Makhija, Mona V.
• 署名单位: University of South Carolina System; University of South Carolina Columbia; University System of Ohio; Ohio State University
• 刊物名称: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0143-2095
• DOI: 10.1002/smj.1970
• 发表日期: 2012
• 页码: 661-680
• 关键词: Organizational structure; organic and mechanistic structures; Information processing; problem solving; KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

摘要

Researchers' primary concern with respect to the information processing perspective has been to understand how structural features influence the organization's ability to draw upon and utilize information for resolving problems, ignoring the primary role of individuals as the information processors within the organization. To shed light on this issue, we employ a quasi-experimental design to examine the effects of two structural types, organic and mechanistic, on individuals' gathering, interpretation, and synthesis of information and, in turn, their problem-solving orientation. Holding the external context constant, our evidence shows that individuals do process information differently under the two structural types, which then leads to different comfort levels in dealing with organizational problems. These findings highlight the importance of considering the microfoundations of the information processing perspective. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.