The Relationship Between Organization Technology and the Direction and Frequency Dimensions of Task Communications

Abstract

Studies which attempt to link organization technology and task communication patterns in the organization are few, and most of these deal only with the directionality (i.e., vertical vs. horizontal) dimension. This field study focused not only on the direction of task communications but also on the frequency of task communications. Structured observations, a survey questionnaire, and interview data-gathering methods were used in three departments of one organization, each employing a different technology. Results indicate that for task communications an inverse relationship exists between technological certainty and the proportion of organization member communications which are vertical; a direct relationship exists between technological certainty and the proportion of organization member horizontal communications; and no relationship exists between technological certainty and the proportion of organization member diagonal communications. Also, the data support an inverse relationship between technological certainty andfrequency of task communications. These results are largely contrary to existing theory and research and suggest the necessity of further research into the relationship between the organization technology and communications.