The key role of organizational culture in a multi-system view of technology-driven change

Organizations undergoing technology-driven change must understand that tech nology is only one of several inter-related components which drive organiza tional performance. A multi-system perspective of organizations highlights the interdependencies between an organization's technology, structure and c ulture and how these affect organizational processes and behaviors. Success ful technological innovations require that either the technology be designe d to fit the organization's current structure and culture or that the organ izational structure and culture be reshaped to fit the demands of the new t echnology. Thus, the desired effects of new technology are most often reali zed in organizations able to implement the additional changes that are requ ired to maintain overall fit. To illustrate these issues, this paper presen ts a case study based on a technology-driven change in a Turkish financial organization. Special attention is given to the role of organizational cult ure, which is often cited as the most critical factor in successful technol ogy assimilation. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.