Social and Organizational Impact of Local and Telecommunications Systems--Open Questions

Kenneth Olsen, the President of Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), points out a paradox associated with the application of network technology to organizational integration: while integration is technologically feasible, it is often resisted for social and psychological reasons. In cases where integration is being achieved, such as airline reservations systems and banking with automated teller machines, the approach typically employed involves the application of local and telecommunications networks (LTS). As applications of LTS expand, the need to identify and understand the behavioral and organizational consequences of this technology likewise increases. Especially important are the Local and telecommunications systems (LTS) constitute an important new technology which is being increasingly deployed in modern organizations. Common applications include factory and office automation, laboratory research, and academic instruction. LTS figure prominently in electronic messaging systems, decision support systems, and, to a lesser but increasingly important extent, expert systems. This paper devotes particular attention to the behavioral and organizational implications of LTS technology. Relevant research issues which especially warrant empirical attention are identified and discussed.