IST 301: Information and Organizations Wei-Fan Chen, Ph.D. The Penn State University Wilkes-Barre Campus

Lecture 1: Relationships between IT & Organizations Factors in effective organizations Relationships BTW IT & organizations Author’s Research findings Symptoms for poor coordination Seven ways of interaction Review questions In-class problem and homework Reading source: Walton, R.E.: Up and Running. The relationships between information technology and organization---Crucial, complex and manageable. pp.13-32.

Factors in Effective Organizations Business strategies: marketing Organizational strategies: reward, measurement, leadership, commitment, etc IT strategies

Relationships BTW IT & Organizations Observation 1: GM’s plants in MI (high-tech/traditional) v.s. MA (low-tech/traditional) Observation 2: NUMMI and HONDA plants (moderate-tech/high-reform) v.s. GM (high-tech/traditional) Observation 3: Nissan (more-tech/less-reform) v.s. NUMMI and HONDA Observation 4: Japan v.s. US (FMS)

Author’s Shipping Industry Research Economic benefits of new technologies depend on the implementation of a new organizational form Role flexibility Ship owners should innovate socially as well as technically More training to work force

Symptoms for Poor Coordination Employees ignore the system Low morale among employees Disappointing results of systems use

Seven Ways of Interaction IT requires new org. policies IT elicits org. dynamics IT is revised by users IT promotes org. solutions IT refines org. adaptations IT & org. considered as alternatives IT provides opportunities for org. change

Review Questions What are the factors influencing the development of effective organizations? What are the symptoms that reflect a poor coordination of IT development and organizational change? What are the seven ways explaining the interaction between IT and organizational change?

Approaches to constructing a reflection paper Describe. Answer this question: What does the article say? Explain. Answer this question: What does the article mean? Explain in your own words/experiences. Answer this question: What does the article mean to YOU?

Homework (reading#1) What are the four observations made in the article (MIT International Motor Vehicle Program) regarding the relationship between IT & organizations? Draw a conclusion. Describe potential symptoms for the poor ordination of IT development and organizational change. How can you resolve this problem?