THE INFORMATION INTENSIVE ORGANIZATION - A STUDY OF GOVERNANCE, CONTROL AND COMMUNICATION IN A NORWEGIAN SHIPYARD

Organizational performance is closely related to the features of the i nformation system of an organization. Sterkoder Ltd changed its organi zational structure in 1989 to increase productivity in the shipyard. E ighty per cent of its employees were rehired and retrained in 1989. Th e company focused on a flatter organization with an information system to link the corporation, which resulted in a better working logistics between the different units. In this process the number of middle man agers was decreased by 65 per cent. This was carried out in an agreeme nt between the top management and the trade union for the blue collar workers. The total result was an increase in productivity by 34 per ce nt from 1989 to 1991. A further increase of 20 per cent is planned for 1992-93 and a productivity gain of 3 per cent has been achieved in th e first quarter of 1992. Based on the requirements specified in Drucke r's 1989 book, The New Realties, the efforts of reorganizing a Norwegi an shipyard is interpreted in terms of the relationships between patte rns of communication, intraorganizational variability, political allia nces and economic performance. Crucial properties of an 'information-i ntensive organization' are discussed with an emphasis on the vital imp act of the ecology of communicative routines with regard to organizati onal performance in organizations in transition.