Information management, organizational design, and organizational theory

Management information systems tend to an overload of information. The crucial question becomes: What information to select? A great challenge is to weld information systems into practical tools for the management of organizational units. This confronts us with problems of acceptance and practical applicability for unit management and their people. A system of management information is explained that contributes to a strong awareness of responsibility for results in the units of an organization. The requirements that such a system of management information must meet are described in relation with an organizational design that strengthens the system's positive effects. Further, a few concepts from organizational theory are considered with the purpose to understand and to steer such developments in organizations. A network model of organizations is discussed; more specifically, attention is paid to the changing tension balance of autonomy interdependency between organizational units. Finally examples of organizational configurations are provided that have been successful in using their informational resources. These configurations are linked to the proposed concepts.