A contIngency framework of the relationship between the use of IT and organizational design variables (FIT as gestalts perspective)

Despite the fact that IT has become a fundamental variable for organizational design very few studies have been done to explore this vital issue in a systematic and convincing fashion. Indeed, the small amount of information and few theories available on organizational design in general and much less on the effects of IT on organization design is surprising. Most studies on the effects of IT on organizational design describe IT in general ways which have led to a non-generalizable and even contradictory result. The divergence in findings of previous research to some extent arises partly from lack of systematic approach to evaluate all the variables affecting organizational design. The current research attempts to address this problem by developing a contingency framework within which the impact of information technology (IT) on organizational design variables and simultaneously a number of the variables of interest and their relationship together are explored. To pursuit its objectives, in the first step, direct effects of IT on four organizational design variables (decision making, control, positions and formalisation) will be examined. Second, in addition to evaluating direct effects of IT, based on a conceptual theory in framework of FIT as gestalts approach, we also viewed this relationship from a contingency theory perspective at three levels organizational, individual and technological. In order to obtain rich data to explain the processes of change, while still being able to quantitatively measure and statistically analyze the impacts of advanced technologies on organizational design, a survey instrument will be utilized with target population of 400 Iranian manufacturing companies.