chapter 10: organizational information theory (OIT) Flashcards
organization information theory (OIT)
a theory that centers on the dynamic process of managing information
theory of sociocultural evolution
Darwin’s belief that only the fittest can survive challenging surroundings
equivocality
the extent to which organizational messages are uncertain, ambiguous, and/or unpredictable
information environment
the availability of all stimuli in an organization
rules
guidelines in organizations as they review responses to equivocal information
duration
organizational rule stating that decisions regarding equivocality should be made in the least amount of time
rule of personnel
organizational rule stating the most knowledgeable workers should resolve equivocality
success
organizational rule stating that a successful plan of the past will be used to reduce current equivocality
rule of effort
organizational rule stating that decisions regarding equivocality should be made with the least amount of work
cycles
series of communication behaviors that serve to reduce equivocality
act
communication behaviors indicating a person’s ambiguity in receiving a message
response
reaction to equivocality
adjustment
organizational responses to equivocality
double interact loops
cycles of an organization (e.g., interviews, meetings) to reduce equivocality
enactment
interpretation of the information received by the organization
