Intentional Decentralization and Instinctive Centralization: A Revelatory Case Study of the Ideographic Organization of IT

• The aim of this study is to contribute to the body of knowledge surrounding centralization and decentralization of IT within the field of IT Governance. This is achieved through a revelatory case study of an ideographic organization, seen from the perspective of Social Transformation Processes. The study finds that the discussion in regards to whether IT should be centralized or decentralized is misdirected and needs to take additional aspects into account. As the case illustrates, organizations that hold dual identities encompass both organizational states simultaneously, whereby intentional decentralization is coupled with an instinctive centralization. The study illustrates limitations in the distinction between centralized and decentralized IT, as well as opens up for future studies of the organization of IT utilizing the perspective of social transformation processes.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Företagsekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Business Administration (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Institutional theory

IT Governance

social transformation processes

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)