Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to examine the possibilities for extending organisational metaphors into the area of information systems. The mechanistic metaphor is used as a relevant example because analysing the assumptions behind it offers a particularly revealing insight into common assumptions in the field of management studies and information systems. These assumptions were developed in a specific historical context, that of the development of bureaucratic forms in a government and industry and the acceptance of what Weber described as “instrumental rationality.” Three elements of a characteristically mechanistic view of information management are identified: corporate ownership of information, a formal division of information work and a definition of the nature of information as data whose meaning is noncontroversial. It is argued that this view of information is too restricted to allow for creative development of information use, but that the corporate ownership of information continues to be relevant because of the notion of formal rights which has been developed from it.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 517 - 536 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Systems Practice |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 1995 |