Technology, context, structure and work unit effectiveness

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to empirically examine the relationship between, technology, context, structure and the impact of the technology-structure fit on work unit effectiveness. tiveness. Literature research shows that technology, structure and context have been considered as the major determinants of organizational effectiveness in many studies. This study was conducted in 27 work units of a large leather garments producing company. Data were collected through a questionnaire which comprised questions related to measuring three dimensions of technology; seven dimensions of structure three dimensions of context and six dimensions of effectiveness. Respondents were unit supervisors. Major decision makers of the company were also referred as external raters to decrease the subjectivity in the performance measurement. Methodology of the study consisted of correlational analysis to study technology-context-structure-effectiveness relationship; fit analysis to determine the congruence between technology and structure; Chi-square analyses to study the relationship between technology-structure fit and work unit effectiveness. Our findings revealed little support for the effects of technology on work unit structure. Results of context-structure relationship showed that the variance in the unit structure was mostly explained by contextual factors. Effective units were found to have fit between their technology and structure; whereas less effective units have no fit. The results of the study contributed to the organization and work units studied, through providing a deep understanding of the effects of technology-context-structure relationship on work unit effectiveness; and to further studies in terms of introducing new measures of context affecting work unit structure.