Computerised Office Systems: To Centralise or Decentralise?

Abstract

Decentralized computer‐based information systems have the potential to support a wider range of organizational forms than centralized systems. For organizations contemplating the introduction of new information technology into their offices, distributed systems appear to be the most effective choice on the basis of flexibility, expandability, cost, organizational and quality of working life criteria. With appropriate user participation and training programmes, networking can improve communications within and between functions and facilitate user access to an integrated data‐base in text, graphics, image, data and voice (eventually) mode. But, there is a sting in the tail of decentralized computing systems … surveillance over users.

Pluralist beliefs about new technology within a manufacturing organization

“…Writers from a variety of disciplines have attempted to describe and predict the extent of its impact on a wide range of attitudinal and behavioural variables at the individual, group, and organizational levels [l]. There has been widespread agreement that technology does not determine the way in which jobs are designed around machines, although both hardware and software can influence the options available [2]. Managerial policies are more important.…”