Apr. 4 GoalSetting Networks Network Computing

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Apr. 4 Goal-Setting Networks Network Computing

• Although dated work, Thompson and McEwans 1965
  article sets a stage for contemporary discussions
  about organization networks and network
  computing. When you read it, please focus upon
  the following (and relationships among them) the
  environment, goal-setting (rather than goals per
  se) as a dynamic and continuing process, and
  alternative strategies (competition, bargaining,
  etc.) for dealing with forces in the environment.
  Identify where enactment is especially relevant
  (for example, reinterpretation of goals?)
• Goals vs. goal-settinghow are these different
  issues (or variables)?
• Difference btn. Private and public organizations
  vis-à-vis goal setting complexity of
  environment (in)tangibility of outcome
• Which of the four alternatives for dealing with
  the environment do or dont appear workable for
  effective networks? Why or why not?
• A life-long public manager encounters numerous
  reformssome of which last while others are
  passing fads. But regardless of their merits, all
  proposed reforms in the public sector (like
  virtual agencies) need to be sold politically.
  Thus, Fountains Ch. 2 shows how the idea of
  network computing was part-in-parcel of the sales
  pitch in the 1990s to reinvent and improve
  government. Fountains last subheading Vision
  (or pitch) and Reality is particularly telling
• The role of information technology in the
  National Performance Review (NPR)
• The sell that the internet can create virtual
  agencies by surpassing organization boundaries
  can provide the impetus for reformulating
  traditional hierarchies and bureaucratic
  cultures.
• Vision and realitywhere do you suppose the
  idea of enactment fits in here?

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Apr. 4 Goal-Setting Networks Network Computing

• Following on her discussion of reality, Fountain
  ticks through various attributes of information
  technology (IT) in public organizations in
  Chapter 3
• Affects the economics of information in
  organizationhow? Why is this significant?
• creates sunk costs what does this mean?
  Implications?
• Is enacted to support existing, dominant societal
  valuesdoes the same innovation have the same
  affects in different cultures?
• Simultaneously centralizes and decentralizes
  (whats up here? What does this mean?)
• What does compression mean? Examples?
• The performance issue
• How does enactment come in here?
• Can IT determine performance? If not, why and
  what can it do?
• Any tie-in with GormleyBalla Ch. 1 (and 7)?
• Questions for discussion
• Its usually assumed that more information equips
  people better for making decisions. How could it
  be that more information provided by information
  technology and computer networks actually
  de-skills people in organizations? Can you think
  of an example?
• Relevance of database/domestic violence article