Reinventing business organisations: the information culture framework – Document – Gale Academic OneFile

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Abstract

Rapid technological and social change, pressure to respond to increased global competition, high expectation of customers, and pressure to do more with limited resources are some of the challenges facing business organisations. The conditions of globalisation require companies to transform from the traditional industrial enterprises of yesteryears into the modern post-industrial ones. The focus on knowledge has led to increased attention towards information technology as one of the main sources of competitive advantage.

The fluid and hyper competitive global economy has created a new competitive landscape. IT has brought a bewildering array of capabilities. People are getting accustomed to immediate solutions. IT has brought about a whirlwind of transition in the way companies do business and relate to one another. The world is witnessing the collapse of archaic systems and techniques and the concept of organisation is being redefined. Organisational boundaries have become less confining, allowing dramatic changes in the workplace.

The evolving organisation is an amalgam of systems, processes, and people, each linked to the other through high-speed and real-time information. Successful business organisations are experiencing and making efforts to imbibe the information culture–a culture where information is the essence of all activities. This information culture is based on the information framework, symbolised by: Instantaneity, Interactivity, Informality and Intangibility.

Key words: Velcro hooking, Hyperarchy, Flexible organisation, Virtuality and Discontinuities and Discontinuities

Introduction

Electronic information has completely transformed the way we communicate, work and live. Information technology (IT) has brought a bewildering array of capabilities. People are getting accustomed to immediate solutions. We feel the world at our doorsteps by having access to all that we could imagine. The world is witnessing the click-of-the-mouse phenomenon.

IT has also brought about a whirlwind of transition in the way companies do business and relate to one another. The world is witnessing the collapse of archaic systems and techniques and the very concept of organisation is getting redefined. Organisational boundaries have become less confining, allowing dramatic changes in the workplace. Businesses are weaving IT more deeply into the very tapestry of their operations. The technological changes have begun to impact all facets of the organisation; be they tasks, processes, methods, structures, designs or relationships. IT has brought people and organisations closer. Business organisations under such bizarre settings are unlearning and undoing traditional ways of working. Organisations need to be responsive to the unique relationships that may emerge between people, information, teams, processes, technology, and facilities. This has engendered dramatic changes in business organisations paving way for the emergence of a new world order.

Business organisations are experiencing the information culture–a culture where information is the essence of all activities. In fact, information is the glue that holds together the structure of all businesses. With the major tasks of organisation going digital and concepts like E-business, E-commerce, and E-marketing getting popular, information is the basis of success and competitive advantage. The information culture is manifest in the use of high-tech devices, E-enabled techniques, electronic database, sophisticated gadgets, online communication, and proliferation of the…