Title

An assessment of the Singerian inquiring organizational model: Cases from academia and the utility industry

Authors

Authors

S. M. Richardson; J. F. Courtney;D. B. Paradice

Abbreviated Journal Title

Inf. Syst. Front.

Keywords

inquiring systems; inquiring organizations; learning organizations; organizational learning; systems theory; Computer Science, Information Systems; Computer Science, Theory &; Methods

Abstract

The Singerian model of inquiring organizations is reviewed (Proceedings of the Americas Conference on Information Systems. Phoenix. Arizona Aug. 16-18,1996:44-3-445; Australian Journal of Information Systems, 1998;6(1):3-15, reprinted in Foundations of Information Systems: Towards a Philosophy of Informative Technology, http://wwwcba.uh.edu/similar to parks/fis/fisart.htm.) and two cases of organizations representing the Singerian approach are analyzed. The Singerian organization, based on Churchman's (The Design of Inquiring Systems: Basic Concepts of Systems arid Organizations. New York, NY: Basic Books Inc., 1971.) Singerian inquiring system, has ethical purposes, treats employees, customers and outer stakeholders with trust arid respect, and pursues socially responsible,goals, including a respect,for the environment. Decision making in Singerian organizations is holistic and systemic, and includes diverse stakeholders, thus requiring art open, cooperative culture, vs herein debate is encouraged. Authority is diffuse. Measurement is fundamental. A system of measures is continuously monitored, refined, compared and revised to assess progress. Cooperation and communication are supported with various types of groupware, including e-mail, electronic meeting systems, group support systems, negotiation support systems, discussion forums, knowledge bases, knowledge management systems and the like. The Internet and World Wide Web may serve as resource and dissemination agents for "exoteric" knowledge created by the organization. Two organizations, an Energy Service Company and an academic Center for the Management of Information Systems, are analyzed for their conformance to and success with the Singerian approach. The organizations tended to prosper when the model was followed, but ran into difficulties when it was not.

Journal Title

Information Systems Frontiers

Volume

3

Issue/Number

1

Publication Date

1-1-2001

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

49

Last Page

62

WOS Identifier

WOS:000172245700005

ISSN

1387-3326

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