Conditions for new ways of organizing, using ICT: dealing with psychological dilemmas.

Abstract

One of the ways by which contemporary organizations deal with increasing demands for flexibility is by using new information and communication technologies (ICT). As these new technologies make it possible to organize work differently, f.i.independently of place and time, new organizational configurations and work forms are getting born. In general these can be labeled as temporary collaborative networks, aimed to share expertise, costs and markets. An important agenda for organization researchers then becomes by which conditions these temporary networks are supported. In this paper three critical conditions are identified and discussed: 1)psyhological boundaries (Hirschhorn and Gilmore, 1992) in the new jobs of individuals and groups, 2)psychological dilemmas caused by the complexity and temporariness of collaboration in network relationships, and 3)new 'images of organizations' (Morgan, 1989) or 'mental contructions' that can serve as common ground for organizational members to visualize a desired future and as a working model to conceptualise new ways of working. Collaborative networks are thus not a given, automatically realized once ICT is used. It is a delicate and challenging organizational activiy that needs constant support. The use of one or more network coveners can be benificial in this respect. The paper advocates the use of such role, which differs from more classical leadership, and outlines some specific competencies for facilitation in temporary collaborative settings. Finally it is argued that classical motivational factors for participation and membership in traditional organizations are replaced by characteristics of the relational processes that evolve in temporary networks.