This study aims at analyzing the relationships among the technology an organization uses, perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU) and the organizational structure, based on the fact that the organizational design is determined by the various contextual variables.
In this study, technology is classified into five explicit dimensions in the system level and measured by the multi-indiced method, considering the three modes in which technology is embedded-man, machine, and method.
On the basis of theoretical background and logical reasoning, seven hypotheses about the relationships among organization structure, technology and PEU are developed.
The data required in this study were collected by means of interviews and questionnaires from 43 firms, ten industries.
Hypothesis testing and post analysis were conducted using Pearson correlation, two-way ANOVA, Multiple regression and Spearman correlation. The findings are summarized as follows.
1. The scale and sophistication of technology had the strongest relationship with structure.
2. The relationships among each dimension of technology and PEU, and the relationships among PEU and each dimension of organization structure were weak.
3. The result from the relationships among every element of environment, the dimensions of technology and organization structure is probably much more significant and meaningful than that from the single dimension, PEU.
Because of the adaption of the theoretical framework in developed country to the Korean situation, measurement, theory building and research methodology may be imperfect, but this study suggests that it is useful to research in this field.
The more study in this field is needed.
