Harnessing knowledge workers' participation for IT planning effectiveness:the informational and motivational mediating effects of users' microplanning behaviour

In most organizations, knowledge is produced on a continuous basis such tha t formal planning methods fail to capture it on time for utilization into e ffective IT solutions. Microplanning, as user-led informal planning behavio ur, allows users as knowledge workers to continuously use their knowledge a nd skills to identify opportunities for using IT or replanning its existing use. This is the informational effect of microplanning. Microplanning is a lso an empowering process which enhances users' own motivation. This empowe rment effect is referred to as the motivational effect. User microplanning behaviour therefore constitutes the main construct of the model of micropla nning effectiveness described in this study. It yields effectiveness throug h two paths, informational and motivational. After operational definitions for the variables were derived, the two main hypotheses of the study were e mpirically tested on a sample of 263 knowledge workers. Results of the stud y fully support the informational and motivational effects of microplanning .