The role of individuals in the information processing perspective

Abstract

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 © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Microfoundations In Strategy Research

“…In the context of the entrepreneurship literature, Smith and Cao (2007) show how such ideas can cast new light, beyond existing adaptation and ecology views, on the firm-environment relationship. Turner and Makhija (2012) add to this line of inquiry by arguing that much work on information-processing in organizations has effectively ignored the role of individuals, and by adopting a quasiexperimental research design that allows them to analyze top-down influences from organizational structure to the information processing of individuals.…”

Misfits in Organization Design: Information Processing as a Compensatory Mechanism

“…Structure continues to enjoy popularity in the recent literature and is a major focus of managers and consultants who design and redesign organizations (Birkinshaw, Nobel, & Ridderstrale, 2002;Burton, DeSanctis, & Obel, 2006;Gulati & Puranam, 2009;Siggelkow, 2002;Siggelkow & Rivkin, 2005;Turner & Makhija, 2012;Wasserman, 2008). One influential approach for examining the design of organization structures is structural contingency theory (Burns & Stalker, 1961;Donaldson, 2001;Lawrence & Lorsch, 1967;Thompson, 1967).…”

ICT-Enabled Time-Critical Clinical Practices: Examining the Affordances of an Information Processing Solution

“…Information processing networks are dynamic network-based information processing structures which operate as a coordination mechanism (Kwon, Oh & Jeon 2007). Over time, continual exposure to a specific type of organisational structure will propel individuals toward proficiency in processing information and will bolster their ability and confidence to solve problems, through ongoing learning, in a manner consistent with this structure (Turner & Makhija 2012). In other words, structures direct or adapt the behaviour of individuals by facilitating the individuals' ability to obtain and derive meaning from the key information related to their work.…”