¶ … organizations likely to find better solutions to information overload through changes to their technical systems or their social systems -- or both? Why?
In the last several years, a wide variety of organizations have been dealing with information overload. The main reason for this is because there has been a transformation in the way firms are interacting with stakeholders. What has been happening is advancements in technology are changing how entities will communicate internally and externally. During this process is when information overload is occurring. This is when everyone will have too much access to information. Once this happens, is the point that it will be difficult in trying to find specific facts, data or go to a particular department inside an organization. (Ott, 2010)
Recently, there have been attempts to address these issues through focusing on technical and social systems. This has been transforming the operating environment by creating strategies for firms to deal with these challenges. To fully understand what is taking place requires looking at both sides of the argument surrounding the use of these tactics. Together, the combination of these elements will highlight how both technical and social systems must be utilized by an organization.
As a result, this essay is focusing on how technical and social systems can change the way an organization is dealing with information overload. The reason why this position has been taken is to show how the most successful entities are able adapt to all changes. Moreover, to illustrate how understanding these issues will help to improve a firm's competiveness. Those organizations that have the ability to make adjustments to these transformations will remain at the forefront of innovation.
The Views of Proponents
Proponents of social and technological change have a number of different theories on how organizations are finding better solutions for dealing with these issues. One of the more common tools that are being utilized is the social technical systems theory (STS). This is when various instruments and tactics...
The effectiveness of the design and integration of these principals will have an impact on how a firm is able to interact with employees. (Errey, 2006)
According to proponents, once these elements are combined with each another is when there will be a transformation in the operating environment of an organization. Evidence of this can be seen with information from Bellinger (n.d.). He found that those firms which are able to use these kinds of systems are integrating a number of principals together. These include: data, information, knowledge and wisdom. The combination of these factors is based upon using technical data and specific information to identify the right sources for the individual. While the knowledge and wisdom is from having the experience, to determine when a particular piece of information is useful. This is important, in showing how both social and technical systems are helping organizations to find better answers for dealing with information overload. (Bellinger, n.d.)
As a result, the main reasons why we are supporting this position, is based on the fact that this is a natural part of adjusting to these transformations. Those firms that are able to take new sources and create procedures to locate specific information will be more productive. A good example of this can be seen with observations from Blair (n.d.). She found that those organizations which are able to create procedures in finding specific data can use new technology to their advantage. This is what happened when the printing press was first introduced with most people having information overload. Those individuals, who created procedures to find specific data and then used this information, were able to adjust with these changes. Once this took place, is when their organizations became more dominant by utilizing this data to their advantage. A similar situation is happening today with the transformations in technology and how quickly a firm is able to adapt. Those who have effective procedures for…
