RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL AND JOB LEVELS

There are two main approaches to the study of organizational structure and technology. One is at the organizational level and the other is at the job level. The conclusion that structure and technology are not significantly related is based primarily on the results of organizational level research. Alternatively, a persuasive case can be made that these results stem from lack of a common paradigm. Investigation of research at the job level provides one way of testing this assertion because it is based on a more or less unified framework. When results at the job level are compared a much better case is made for structural and technological covariation. A reasonable doubt must remain concerning the demise of the technological imperative. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved