Running head: TECHNOLOGY STRUCTURES 1
Technology Structures and Social Boundaries
Institution Affiliation
Date
TECHNOLOGY STRUCTURES 2
Introduction
The term technology is often used to refer to the machine, equipment, and instruments
that individuals or organizations use to perform certain tasks (Ahmad, 2014). Organizations,
especially large ones, rely on technology to help in organizing their activities and in the
attainment of their goals. Information Technology (IT) is one type of technology that has
revolutionized organizations (Ahmad, 2014). IT has been changing how organizations receive,
store, and process information and organize their activities and processes. Technology influences
organizational structures, communication within an organization, and interaction between
different participants within an organization (Ahmad, 2014). Hence, technology is a critical
component of an organization. As a critical component, technology has to be thoroughly studied
and analyzed to determine the best ways to use the same to organize firms and achieve desired
goals. The use of technology within organizations and its interaction with social boundaries has
given rise to technical and social terminologies that are used by today’s organizations. The
technical and social terminology arising from the interaction between technology and social
boundaries applies to the natural, rational, and open systems perspectives.
Technical and Social Terminology
The area of technology in organizations has given rise to several concepts. One important
concept is environment. The term environment is used in the context of technology in
organizations context to refer to the environmental aspects of the organizational context (Scott,
2015). The aspects covered in the term include political, technological, and institutional
environments (Scott, 2015). The technological environment is critical to organizations that rely
on technology to gain a competitive advantage against competing organizations. For such
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organizations, it is critical to keep up with technological changes that could help enhance their
operations. The proper use of the right technology is likely to aid in better organizing an
organization and achieve set goals.
The second concept is the task environment (Scott, 2015). According to Scott (2015), the
concept refers to the characteristics of an organization’s environment that are important to its
acquisition of inputs, its disposition of outputs, and the power relations between an organization
and those the other organization that it exchanges goods and/or services. Task environment is
critical to organizational decision making regarding the acquisition of inputs, processing of the
inputs, and the exchange of the same with individuals or other organizations (Kaufmann et al.,
2012). The concept also has some influence on organizations' technology.
The term technology is also often used by organizations in the technical context. Scott
(2015) defines technology as a combination of physical and knowledge or intellectual resources
used by organizations to transform inputs into outputs. Scott’s definition moves beyond viewing
technology as merely the machine, equipment, and instruments used to convert inputs to outputs.
Relevant knowledge or intellectual resources are added to the definition as they are important to
the utilization of machines, equipment, and instruments to achieve desired ends. Without
knowledge of how to use technology, it would be close to impossible to leverage the technology
in organizing a firm or using the same to achieve an organization's goals.
The fourth terminology relevant to the topic of technology in an organization is the term
technical system (Scott, 2015). According to Scott (2015), the term technical system is used to
refer to the particular combination of machines and methods that are needed to generate the
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needed outcome. Technology needs to be coupled with the right methods to achieve an
organization’s goals and objectives.
How Terminologies Apply to the Rational Perspective
The four terminologies relating to technology and structures apply to the rational system
perspective. The rational system perspective approaches organizations as instruments developed
to achieve some desired ends (IBlaschke, 2008). The two essential characteristics of the rational
system perspective are goal specificity and formalization (Scott, 2015). The perspective views
organizations as organized through formal structures that are geared towards the attainment of
desired goals. Technology can help an organization based on the rational system perspective to
create an appropriate formal structure and achieve set goals.
The term environment applies to the rational system perspective. Although the
perspective does not explicitly focus on the impact of the environment on its activities and
participants, all organizations are affected by their environments. An organization based on the
rational system perspective has to deal with political, technological, and institutional
environments. Significant changes in any of the environments will likely trigger changes in an
organization.
The term task environment also applies to the rational system perspective. A rational-
system-based organization’s environment is likely to have characteristics that are important to its
acquisition of inputs, its disposition of outputs, and power relations between the organization and
those the other organization that it exchanges goods and/or services (Scott, 2015). Any
organization that fails to recognize and adapt to such characteristics is likely to fail. Scott (2015)
notes that contingency theorists argue that the best way to structure an organization is to analyze
TECHNOLOGY STRUCTURES 5
the nature of the task environment. As the rational system perspective focuses a lot on
formalization, the task environment does apply in the structuring of an organization.
The term technology also applies to the rational system perspective. Rational
organizations, too, need physical and knowledge or intellectual resources to be used to transform
inputs into outputs. Such a transformation would help in the attainment of a rational-system-
perspective-based organization's goals. Technology can also help in structuring an organization
based on the rational system. For example, many organizations create divisions based on
functions. A rational organization can create a technology division to organize technology-based
participants. The term technical system also applies to the rational system. Organizations using
such a system have to have machines and methods that are needed to generate the needed
outcome.
How Terminologies Apply to the Natural Perspective
The natural system perspective holds that informal and interpersonal structures hold more
importance than formal structures (Scott, 2015). The natural system perspective differs from the
rational system on its emphasis on goal complexity within organizations and the importance of
informal structures. The discussed technical and social terminologies apply to the natural system
perspective. According to Scott (2015), Social and cultural factors within an organization
influence the relationship between technology and structure.
The term environment applies to the natural system perspective. That is despite the fact
that the natural system perspective theorists did not focus on the influence of the environment on
organizations. Natural systems operate within different environments. Social, cultural, political,
technological, and institutional environments would affect an organization based on the natural
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system perspective. The environments would affect organizational and participants’ goals and
formal and informal structures within the organizations. Technology aids in the formation of
informal structures within organizations. Social networking technology is an example of a
technology boosting informal structures within organizations (Treem & Leonardi, 2013).
The term task environment also applies to the natural system perspective. An
organization based on the natural system perspective must analyze the characteristics that are
important to its acquisition of inputs, its disposition of outputs, and power relations to specify its
goals and inform its structure (Scott, 2015). The task environment would help in the formation or
improvement of formal and informal structures.
The term technology also applies in the case of the natural system perspective. Natural-
system-based organizations would also rely on technology to set their goals and develop formal
and informal structures. The informal structures within the organization would influence
technology adoption and use within such organizations. The term technical system also applies to
the particular system perspective. Machines and methods are needed to generate the needed
outcome in the natural system perspective. Formal and informal structures and the goals of the
organization and those of participants and informal structures would influence adopted machines
and methods.
How Terminologies Apply to the Open Perspective
The four terminologies apply quite well with the open system perspective. According to
the open system perspective, organizations are instruments that are not closed off from their
environment (Őnday, 2018). Organizations interact with their environments. The interactions
lead to the environments influencing the organizations and vice versa (Berglund & Sandström,
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2013). The term environment applies quite clearly to the open system. Social, cultural,
technological, and political factors, among other factors, influence the operations and activities
within an open-system-based organization. An open system adjusts to the conditions in its
environment to survive and thrive.
The task environment concept also applies to the open system perspective. The
interaction with the environment leads open organizations to gain critical characteristics about
their environment that influence their acquisition of inputs, disposition of outputs, and power
relations with participants and other parties (Scott, 2015). Open organizations know well about
their interactions with the environment and are very likely to adequately adapt to their task
environment.
The term technology is also relevant to the open system perspective. Organizations based
on the open system perspective would also adopt technology to aid attain their goals and
objectives. The technology aids in structuring such organizations. The fourth term, the technical
system, is also relevant to the perspective. Open-system-based organizations would need
machines and methods to generate the needed outcome.
Areas of Technology that are an Issue for Participants
There are several areas of technology in an organization that influence participants. The
area of technology that encompasses the machinery and equipment that participants use to do
their jobs is an issue to the participants. Participants care about that the machinery and equipment
present in an organization because such machinery and equipment may make their work easier or
harder. Machinery and equipment that make work harder are likely to be negatively evaluated by
participants. Participants also worry about the technology that organizations plan to adopt as
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such technology may render them redundant (Ahmad, 2014). New machinery and equipment are
increasingly leading many participants to lose jobs.
Another area of technology that is an issue to participants is IT. IT has transformed the
manner in which organizations operate. Participants care about IT because the technology helps
them to communicate with each other formally and informally within their organizations
(Ahmad, 2014). Participants also may have an issue with IT as technology can lead them to lose
their jobs (Ahmad, 2014). For example, the job of filing clerks is quickly diminishing as
organizations are increasingly adopting computer filing systems.
Issues with Organizational Boundaries for Participants
Technology creates organizational boundary issues for participants. Modern
communication technologies in organizations like telephone systems within an organization and
social media have helped remove organizational boundaries for participants. Participants can
communicate quickly and much more conveniently using the technologies. The technologies are
conducive for the formation and strengthening of interpersonal relationships between
participants. The interpersonal relationships are likely to lead to the formation of informal
structures. Technology has also helped in establishing organizational boundaries for participants.
An organization's information systems limit access to information to some participants ad that
help establish organizational boundaries. For example, participants in the accounts department
can access information that is inaccessible by those in the human resources department, and that
helps strengthen organizational boundaries.
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Personal Perspective
My opinion is that technology, especially IT, significantly affects the formal structure of
an organization. The technology used within an origination helps give rise to divisions and hence
impact the structure organization. Organizations, for example, create manufacturing and IT
departments to group participants who have the knowledge and skills to run particular
technologies relevant to such departments. Technology also influences informal structures
within an organization. Social networking tools like WhatsApp help participants within
organizations to interact informally, and that often leads to the formation of informal structures.
Technology can impact structures and interactions with the environment in rational, natural, and
closed system perspectives. Any organization-based in any of the three systems would likely use
technology to achieve its mission. The technology would affect the organization’s structure.
Biblical Principle
One Biblical principle that is relevant to the discussion is that of service. The Bible
instructs human beings to be of service to God and other human beings. Galatians 5:13 states that
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the
flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Organizations are created to serve a defined
purpose. Technology helps organizations in their service. Technology helps organizations
convert inputs into outputs and form structures that are conducive for service. A Christian
organization ought to utilize technology that helps in serving human beings and God.
Organizations should not utilize technology for immoral reasons. A Christian organization
should avoid technology that is not in line with Christian values.
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Conclusion
Organizations adopt technologies to enhance their structures and the attainment of their
desired goals. Technical and social terminology relevant to organizations today is the
environment, task environment, technology, and technical system. The different terminology
applies to rational, natural, and open system perspectives. Technology is useful in all three
system perspectives. The technology has great potential to influence structures in all the three
system perspectives and promote the attainment of organizational missions.
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References
Ahmad, S. H. O. E. B. (2014). Technology in organizations. International Journal of Research in
Business Management, 2(7), 2321-886.
Berglund, H., & Sandström, C. (2013). Business model innovation from an open systems
perspective: structural challenges and managerial solutions. International Journal of
Product Development, 18(3-4), 274-285.
IBlaschke, S. (2008). Organizations as rational, natural, and open systems. Structures and
dynamics of autopoietic organizations: Theory and simulation, 7-57.
Kaufmann, L., Kreft, S., Ehrgott, M., & Reimann, F. (2012). Rationality in supplier selection
decisions: The effect of the buyer's national task environment. Journal of Purchasing and
Supply Management, 18(2), 76-91.
Őnday, Ő. (2018). The relationship between concepts of rational, natural and open systems:
Managing organizations today. International Journal of Information, Business and
Management, 10(1), 245-258.
Scott, W. R. (2015). Organizations and Organizing: Rational, Natural, and Open Systems
Perspectives. London, England: Routledge. ISBN: 9780131958937
Treem, J. W., & Leonardi, P. M. (2013). Social media use in organizations: Exploring the
affordances of visibility, editability, persistence, and association. Annals of the
International Communication Association, 36(1), 143-189.
