TECHNOLOGY

By-Meena Singh Yadav

Definition

 Technology can be most broadly defined as the entities, both material and
immaterial, created by the application of mental and physical effort in
order to achieve some value.

 In this usage, technology refers to tools and machines that may be used to
solve real-world problems.

 The word "technology" can also be used to refer to a collection of

techniques

 Technology can be viewed as an activity that forms or changes culture.

Additionally, technology is the application of math, science, and the arts
for the benefit of life as it is known
 Stephen P Robbins in “Organisation, Theory, Structure,
Design and Application’ defines “Technology refers to the
information, equipment, techniques and processes required to
transform inputs into outputs in the organisation” Technology
applies to all kinds of organisations.

 In 1937, the American sociologist Read Bain wrote that

"technology includes all tools, machines, utensils, weapons,
instruments, housing, clothing, communicating and
transporting devices and the skills by which we produce and
use them.“

 The Merriam-Webster dictionary offers a definition of the

term: "the practical application of knowledge especially in a
particular area" and "a capability given by the practical
application of knowledge".
Joan Woodward in the 1950’s first demonstrated that
organizational structure is associated with the type of technology
employed. Woodward’s classified technology as:

 Custom (small batch or

job order) –

 Mass Production (large

batch) –

 Continuous (process)
Production –
 -Woodward concluded:

 The mass production technology companies were highly

differentiated relied on extensive formalization and did little to
delegate authority.

 Both the unit and process technologies, in contrast, were

structured more loosely.

 Flexibility was achieved through less vertical differentiation

-Limitation

 its manufacturing base represent less than half of the

organisations, technology needs to be operationalised in a
more general way if the concept is to have meaning across all
the organisations
 SIMPLY SPEAKING…

 Technology refers to the process and methods that transform inputs into
output. The three landmark contributions to understanding technology
were advanced by Joan Woodward, Charles Perrow and James David
Thompson.

 Joan Woodward proposed three types of production technology: unit.

Mass and process. Her major contribution lay in identifying distinct
relationship among these technology classes and the subsequent structure
of the organisations and in indicating that the effectiveness of the
organisations was related to the “fit” between technology and structure.

 Charles Perrow proposed a broader view of technology by looking at

knowledge. He identified two underlying dimensions of knowledge
technology: task variability and problem analyzability. These combine to
create four types of technology: routine, engineering, craft and non-
routine. He concluded that the more routine technology, the more highly
structured organisation should be.
 James Thompson demonstrated that the interdependency
created by technology is important in determining an
organisation’s structure. Specifically, he identified long
linked, mediating and intensive technologies; noted the unique
interdependence of each, determined how each dealt with
uncertainty it faced; and predicted the structural coordination
devices that were most economical for each.
Thank You!