Title
An assessment of the Singerian inquiring organizational model: Cases from academia and the utility industry
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
ISSN
1387-3326
Recommended Citation
"An assessment of the Singerian inquiring organizational model: Cases from academia and the utility industry" (2001). Faculty Bibliography 2000s. 8175.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2000/8175