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Technology‐led change: A study of the implementation of CADCAM
Author(s) -
Symon G.,
Clegg C. W.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of occupational psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.257
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 2044-8325
pISSN - 0305-8107
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8325.1991.tb00560.x
Subject(s) - implementation , variety (cybernetics) , satisficing , spell , enterprise resource planning , scarcity , style (visual arts) , computer science , interpretation (philosophy) , operations research , management science , operations management , knowledge management , sociology , engineering , economics , software engineering , artificial intelligence , archaeology , anthropology , programming language , history , microeconomics
Many authors have emphasized that new technology implementations in organizations are predominantly ‘technology led' (e.g. Blacker & Brown, 1986; Clegg & Kemp, 1986). However, few analysts have attempted to account for this approach or, indeed, to spell out its consequences. In this study, we describe the implementation of a CADCAM system in a light engineering company over an 18‐month period, focusing specifically on the reasons for the adoption of a technology‐led implementation style. Using a variety of methods and data‐gathering techniques, we argue that this ‘technology‐led’ implementation is a form of ‘satisficing’ (March & Simon, 1961) and that this approach was adopted as a result of the differentiated and political environment, the scarcity of organizational resources, the existing managerial style and the complexity of the problem. We present a model of this implementation approach and its outcomes based on this interpretation.