Bsc Construction Management
People & Information Management - Assignment 1
Module Code: F107MAN – 70%
Contents
- Introduction
- Current Information Systems
- System Limitations
- Conclusions
- Recommendations
- Appendices
- References & Resources
1.00 Introduction
“Information systems are the means by which people and organisations, utilising technologies, gather, process, store, use and disseminate information.”
(http://www.ukais.org - Definition of Information Systems)
2.00 Current information systems
3.00 System Limitations
4.00 Conclusions
5.00 Recommendations
6.00 Appendices
During this assignment I have read several Management theories to help my understanding of people in the work place and to develop my thought process in the subject. All of the theories mentioned below have been adapted into my own words with the exception of Theory XY, which has been quoted directly.
“Theory x ('authoritarian management' style)
- The average person dislikes work and will avoid it he/she can.
- Therefore most people must be forced with the ...
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4.00 Conclusions
5.00 Recommendations
6.00 Appendices
During this assignment I have read several Management theories to help my understanding of people in the work place and to develop my thought process in the subject. All of the theories mentioned below have been adapted into my own words with the exception of Theory XY, which has been quoted directly.
“Theory x ('authoritarian management' style)
- The average person dislikes work and will avoid it he/she can.
- Therefore most people must be forced with the threat of punishment to work towards organisational objectives.
- The average person prefers to be directed; to avoid responsibility; is relatively unambitious, and wants security above all else.
Theory y ('participative management' style)
- Effort in work is as natural as work and play.
- People will apply self-control and self-direction in the pursuit of organisational objectives, without external control or the threat of punishment.
- Commitment to objectives is a function of rewards associated with their achievement.
- People usually accept and often seek responsibility.
- The capacity to use a high degree of imagination, ingenuity and creativity in solving organisational problems is widely, not narrowly, distributed in the population.
- In industry the intellectual potential of the average person is only partly utilised.”
McGregor, D (1960), The Human Side Of Enterprise
© 2002 Alan Chapman, www.businessballs.com
Organisational Information Processing Theory
This theory works on the basis that there are three main concepts associated with information processing within the organisation. Firstly, there is a need to process information. Secondly, there is a level of capability at which information can be processed. Thirdly, there is a balance between the two, which needs to be found in order to reach optimal performance.
(Galbraith, J. R. (1974). Organization design: An information processing view.)
http://www.istheory.yorku.ca/informationprocessingtheory.htm
Information Processing Theory
This theory embraces two concepts. Firstly, the human short-term memory can only hold between five and seven chunks of meaningful information at any given time. Secondly, the human brain goes through the same processes as a computer to receive, process, adapt, store and retrieve information. According to Miller, there are three types of human memory: Sensory registers where all information is received, Short Term Memory where the information is processed and adapted, and Long Term Memory where the information is stored until such time that it is required.
(Miller, G.A. (1956). The magical number seven, plus or minus two: Some limits on our capacity for processing information.)
http://www.istheory.yorku.ca/OIPT.htm
Technology Acceptance Model
This theory works on the understanding that if an individual perceives something to be either useful or easy to use (such as a computer or new process at work) they form an intention to act based on a belief that they would be free to act without limitation. As soon as constraints, restrictions or problems are introduced such as competency, time or unconscious habit, the individual loses the ability to act freely and becomes de-motivated.
(Davis, F. D. (1989). Perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and user acceptance of information technology. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319-339.)
http://www.istheory.yorku.ca/Technologyacceptancemodel.htm
References & Resources
Unless otherwise stated, answers and responses to all questions have been considered using my own knowledge and information adapted from standard text, research papers, documents and websites as detailed below. I have also the Blackboard to help interpret my thinking.
Standard Text
The Good Study Guide, Andrew Northedge, 2005
All Write!, Alan Bailey, 2002
Course Material
Management Studies – Module 2: Communications
Strathgammon Estate Case Studies – Supplementary Information Sheet 5
Strathgammon Estate Study Paper 5093 p39
IT and the Chartered Surveyor
Introductory Teaching Handouts
Articles/Research Papers
10 Principles of Effective Information Management http://www.steptwo.com.au/papers/kmc_effectiveim/index.html
Organisational Information Processing Theory
http://www.istheory.yorku.ca/OIPT.htm
Information Processing Theory
http://www.istheory.yorku.ca/informationprocessingtheory.htm
A Senior Management Briefing on IT Infrastructure
http://web.mit.edu/cisr/resbrfgs/2002_02_1C_ITInfraSrBrief.pdf
Welcome to The Evolution of Communication http://library.thinkquest.org/26451/newmenu.html
ICT implementation and evolution: Case studies of intranets and extranets in UK construction enterprises, Chee H. Wong, 2007, p254-273
Web Sites
www.ukais.org
www.steptwo.com.au
www.vivisimo.com
www.statistics.gov.uk
www.thinkquest.org/library
www.businessballs.com
www.google.co.uk
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