Impacts of end-user computing on the structure of contemporary administrative organizations

Abstract

End-user computing (EUC) places information processing power in the hands of people at all levels of organization. With information now widely accepted as a corporate resource, the impact of distributed EUC on organizations is potentially very significant. This thesis examines, via case studies, EUC impact on the structure of contemporary administrative organizations, emphasizing three structural variables: information processing, differentiation of organizational groups and communications networks. EUC has been shown both to instigate and facilitate structural change in the organizations studied. The impacts noted in the cases are listed by structural variable. Interpretations of the case study results are also provided.