Treffer: Computerization as a Predominant Technology Effecting Work Unit Structure

This study investigated the question: does the impact of computerization on the work unit structure come from computerization as a moderating variable with respect to task routineness or as an independent variable independent of the task being accomplished? A further question investigated was: does work unit effectiveness influence these relationships? Results of discriminant analyses between organizational units whose mission requires the predominant use of computers (IS units) as compared to organizational units that do not require the use of computers (non-IS units) found that IS units were more centralized, less complex, and perceived less environmental uncertainty. The addition of individual variables (age, education, years with the company) substantially increased the power to discriminate between IS and non-IS units. IS units were composed of younger, more educated. and shorter tenured personnel. There were no differences in task routineness between IS and non-IS units measuring that the effect of computerization was independent of the work done. The distinction between process (the impact on work) and content (the use of computers) may help resolve the conflicting results in the literature concerning the relationship between computerization and work unit structure.