Scandinavian Journal of Management Studies最新文献

In a study of the implementation of new technology in a stamp press plant, one of the most challenging observations was that the “meaning” of the technology seemed to have changed from being a means (for production) to becoming an important end in itself. This could not easily be explained with the help of traditional theoretical frameworks dealing with the technology-society interface which is the reason why the concept of techno-culture was introduced. The techno-culture is essentially the way in which the technique is “framed” in the symbolic reality of an organization. When applying this concept, previously neglected aspects of the change process came into light, such as the importance of the technological traditions, the structure of production group territories, the underlying value and belief system and the symbolic role of management. This study also suggests that neither technological nor social determinism can explain technological change processes.

Institutional barriers as well as cultural differences tend to make the application of the capital theory more difficult in Sweden than in the U.S. In this study the capital investment planning in six Swedish companies with different characteristics is analyzed. We could conclude that the variations in the lines of reasoning, as well as in the use of different criteria, differed considerably from the capital theory. A wide range of heuristics were used which emanated from different lines of thought. A tentative typology of the use of criteria is formulated. We observed and analyzed some dysfunctional effects in the use of certain heuristics reducing the propensity to invest. Furthermore, these heuristics seem to create norms prescribed in handbooks of investments and are used regardless of the economic conditions.

Lotman defines two modes of communication: the old sender-receiver type and another, which is called autocommunication. In the first type, new information is given to the receiver, newspapers add information to our existing knowledge. The second mode is communication to oneself: typical of this mode are meditation formulas, novels that are read many times by the same persons, and art in general. It does not add knowledge in the quantitative sense. It enhances readers ego.

But any message, even a plan or a corporate report, can be read this way, in the autocommunicational meditational way. Plans are often mantras which organizations read to themselves, saying time and again: “This is what we should look like”. Seemingly disappointing planning has its purpose: finding an image, giving new cues, focusing of mind, giving enthusiasm.

This article develops a conceptualization of marketing as interorganizational relations by merging the research traditions of marketing networks and corporate cultures. The notion of marketing as relational networks has remerged from contemporary institutionalism and contains interaction episodes and network structure as key elements. Central dimensions of the corporate cultures conceptualization are shared goals and values, shared cognitions, and shared meanings. The new, comprehensive view of marketing networks may be used to facilitate adaptive planning as well as strategic management in interorganizational networks. Research implications include application of semiotic analysis and more use of longitudinal studies and participant observation.

This article reviews and criticizes the treatment of the concepts of technology in organization theories. It pays special attention to how authors of the contingency school interpret empirical results concerning relationships between technology and organization structure. When authors have encountered contradictory results, they attempt to find flaws in previous research and to ask for methodologically more precise research. As this way of dealing with anomalies yields little fruit in the long run, organization theorists need new frameworks for investigating the significance of technology for the design of organizations. An actor-oriented approach can frame investigations into the cognitive processes dissolving or modifying the relationships.

In a pilot study the interplay between industrial print advertising and industrial culture was examined. We used content analysis to study changes in industrial advertising in Sweden.

Industrial culture is treated as a subsystem of national culture — and as a metasystem of organizational cultures. Changes in industrial culture were observed through indicators such as changes in industrial advertising and in trends of a material nature.

The changes between 1969 and 1979 are described in three themes: from parts to whole systems, from one-sided to interactive relations and from efficiency to effectiveness. Relations between overall culture and industrial culture are discussed as are relations between different indicators of culture. We argue that media may not be a mirror or molder of changes. Instead, changes in advertising might be looked upon as early warnings, which makes studies of changes in advertising as an indicator of cultural changes essential.