A Technology Adaptation Model for Business Process Automation

Adapting workflow technologies to support process automation in business organizationsis now on the top of the agenda in many organizations. We propose a conceptual modelfor technology adaptation in this area that stresses both technology-organization fit andtechnology-process fit. The goal of our study is to develop a systematic approach tobusiness process automation that is adaptive to changes in organizational needs and isconsistent with ideas of worker empowerment. In this paper, we suggest a set offundamental design variables for organizational (organic) and for process (mechanistic)considerations. The technology adaptation model we develop is useful for technologyproviders in the workflow management area and for business managers who wish to takeadvantage of the new work-related technologies. The paper concludes with a number ofsuggestions for future research and development