Organizational Information Theory

1. Organizational Information Theory Systems Approach towards Orgs Karl Weick

2. The Theory • Humans exist in an information environ. • Incl many channels • Created by members of the org • The info an org receives differs in terms of its equivocality • Messages differ in understandability • Must deal w/massive amts of info w/multi interps • Who is best qualified to deal w/info? • Orgs must develop a process to mk sense of specific info

3. Reducing Equivocality • “Requisite Variety” • Engaging in complex comm behavs to reduce equivocality • Highly ambiguous info req more complex comm • Less ambiguous info req less complex comm

4. Rules • Rules – the guidelines an org has established • Incl how the org will analyze the equivocality of the info • Incl how the org will deal w/the feedback provided in response to the org • Duration • Personnel • Success • Effort

5. Cycles • Cycles – systems/series of behavs used to decreased ambiguity • 3 stages: • Action • Reaction • Response / Adjustment • Adjustment to ensure understanding • Req for more info to gain understanding

6. Double Interact Loop • Cycles of acts, reactions, and responses, with multiple communication cycles used to assist in reducing equivocality • Focus on the comm relationships betw ppl ----- not their knowledge/talent • Highly equivocal msg = org will likely hv fewer rules = greater # of cycles to reduce equivocality • Less equivocal msg = org will typically have less rules = fewer cycles required.

7. Reducing Equivocality • Use rules • Use cycles (insufficient rules) • 3 stages in process • Enactment • Selection • Retention