Assessment of Technology in Organizations: Closed versus Open Systems Approaches

Abstract

Technology is a multiphasic, multilevel input/output mechanism that is interdependent with its environment. Past research suggests that inconsistent assessments of technology may be attributed to examining different phases of the same transformation process. Past research has generally ignored input and output activities as well as critical energy exchanges between the technology and the environment. Technology can be assessed at several levels (individual job, subunit, and organization), which are interdependent, yet may reflect qualitatively different activities. A framework for assessing technology is derived from these multiple levels. This framework can be used to aid integration of research, to encourage more thorough assessment of technology, and to investigate the relations between the environment and technology.