Task: Please read the case study "The Effect of Technological Innovation on Organizational Structure: Two Case Studies of the Effects of the Introduction of a New Technology on Informal Organizational Structures" and address the following questions:
- What specific challenges faced each of the universities relating to the new technology?
- What type of strategic responses did the universities attempt to implement in response, and which ones led to greater success?
- Do you think social action theory is a useful framework for understanding the relative success or failure of each of these universities?
- Considering that universities are often very traditional in structure and have remained relatively unchanged compared to other types of organizations, what are the implications of this case study for organizations that are less bound by tradition?
Reference:
Kahn, R. L. (2000). The Effect of Technological Innovation on Organizational Structure.