Impact of Technological and Organisational Change

In many organisations, changes in organisational structure and the introduction of technology are occurring simultaneously, impacting upon personnel in many different ways. The process of such changes, how they interrelate and how they affect personnel are discussed, through examining some of the findings of a recent research project. It is argued that the interrelating developments of decentralisation, line management access to the personnel database and the use of IT not only affects the relationship of the personnel function to the line but also strengthens the position of management in relation to the workforce. Benefits brought by the introduction of computerised personnel systems are related to organisational culture, i.e. the existing status of the personnel function within the organisation and the structure of the organisation, rather than the extent of the use of computers within it.