Organization as System, Psychic Dynamism as Equilibration: A Conceptualization
Organizations are supposed to be systems and
consequently require defining the notion of equilibrium within.
However, organizations comprise people and unavoidably entail their
irrational aspects. Then, the question is what is the organizational
equilibrium and equilibrating mechanisms considering these aspects.
Hence, some arguments are provided here to conceptualize human
unconsciousness, irrationalities and consequent uncertainties within
organizations in the form of a system of psychic dynamism. The
assumption is this dynamism maintains the psychic balance of the
organization through a psychodynamic point of view. The resultant
conceptualization expected to promote the understanding of such
aspects in different organizational settings by hypothesizing
organizational equilibration from this perspective. As a result, the
main expectation is, if it is known that how the organization
equilibrates in this sense, we can explain and deal with such
irrationalities and unconsciousness by rational and, of course
conscious, planning and accomplishing.
[1] Y. Gabriel, and A. Carr, "Organizations, management and
psychoanalysis: an overview", J. Managerial Psychology, vol. 17, No. 5,
2002, pp. 348-365.
[2] Y. Gabriel. The Psychoanalysis of Organizations. Sage Publications
Ltd, 1999.
[3] A. Kersten, "Organizing for powerlessness. A Critical Perspective on
Psychodynamics and Dysfunctionality". J. Organizational Change
Management. 2001.
[4] D. Wastell. Learning Dysfunctions in Information Systems
Development: Overcoming the Social Defenses with Transitional
Objects, MIS Quarterly, 1999, 23(4), pp. 581-600.
[5] K. McGrath. "Affection not Affliction: The Role of Emotions in
Information Systems and Organizational Change". Information and
Organization. 2005. Volume 16. Issue 4.Pages: 277-303
[6] L. Lapointe, and S. Revard, "A Multilevel Model of resistance to
Information Technology Implementation", MIS Quarterly, Vol. 29, No.
3, September 2005, pp. 461-491.
[7] M. Markus, "Technochange Management: Using IT to Drive
Organizational Change". Journal of Information Technology, 2004, Vol.
19, No. 1, pp. 4-20.
[8] E. Davidson, and W. Chismar, "The Interaction of Institutionally
Triggered and Technology-Triggered Social Structure Change: An
Investigation of Computerized Physician Order Entry", MIS Quarterly,
2007.
[9] W. Bovey, and A. Hede, "Resistance to organisational change: the
role of defence mechanisms", Journal of Managerial Psychology. 2001
[10] T. Bowler, General System Thinking, Elsevier North Holland, Inc.,
1981
[11] W. Pasmore, and J. Sherwood, Sociotechnical Systems: A
Sourcebook, International Authors, United States, 1978
[12] N. Luhmann, (Translated by J. Bednarz), Social Systems, Stanford
University Press, Stanford, California, 1995
[13] N. Luhmann, (Translated by R. Barrett), Risk: A Sociological Theory,
Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, 1993, p.XII.
[14] B. Aubert, H. Barki, M. Patry, and V. Roy. "A Multi-level Multi-
Theory Perspective of Information Technology Implementation". Info
Systems, Vol 18, 2008, pp.45-72.
[15] H. Barki, and J. Hartwick, "Interpersonal Conflict and Its
Management in Information System Development". MIS Quarterly, June
2001, Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 195-228
[16] G. Bullen. A Psychodynamic View of the Consulting Relationship: A
Case Study. University of South Africa. 2003
[17] A. Burton-Jones, and M. Gallivan, "Towards a Deeper Understanding
of System Usage in Organizations: A Multilevel Perspective". MIS
Quarterly, 2007.
[18] F. Alexander, Fundamentals of psychoanalysis, W.W. Norton &
Company, Inc. 1963.
[19] C. Brenner, An Elementary Textbook of Psychoanalysis, International
Universities Press, 1955.
[20] S. Freud, Civilization and its Discontents, The Hogarth Press,
London, 1930. Revised 1963. Reprinted 1969.
[21] H. Laughlin, The Ego and its Defenses, Meredith Corporation, 1970.
[22] S. Freud, Group Psychology, Liveright Publishing Corporation, New
York, 2nd Imp, 1967.
[23] D. Forsyth, Group Dynamics, 4th Ed., Thomson Wadsworth, 2006.
[24] D. Cartwright, and A. Zander. (Editors), Group Dynamics, Tavistock
Publications, New York, 1968.
[25] E. Ferneley, and P. Sobreperez, "Resist, Comply or Workaround: An
examination of different facets of user engagement with information
systems", European Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 15, No 4,
2006, pp. 345-356.
[26] Business Dictionary,
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/organization.html.
[27] Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization.
[28] W. Samuelson, and R. Zeckhauser, "Status Quo Bias in Decision
Making", J. Risk and Uncertainty, 1988, pp. 7-59.
[29] I. Aaltio-Marjosola, "From a "Grand Story" to Multiple Narratives?
Studying an Organizational Change Project", Journal of Organizational
Change Management, Vol. 7 Iss. 5, 1994, pp.56-67.
[30] P. Sobreperez, E. Ferneley, and F. Wilson, "Tricks or Trompe L'Oeil?
An Examination Workplace Resistance in an Information Rich
Managerial Environment", Proceedings of the 13th European
Conference on Information Systems, Regensburg, Germany. 2005. Paper
41. pp. 484-494.
[31] L. Markus, "Power, politics, and MIS implementation",
Communications of ACM, 1983
[32] A. Parr, and G. Shank, "A model of ERP project implementation", J.
Information Technology, Vol. 15, No. 4, 2000, pp.289-303.
[33] A. Peslak, G. Subramanian, G. Clayton, "The Phases of ERP
Software Implementation and Maintenance: A Model for Predicting
Preferred ERP Use", J. Computer Information Systems, Vol. 47, Part. 2,
2008, pp. 25-33.
[34] V. Venkatesh, and F. Davis, "A Theoretical Extension of the
Technology Acceptance Model: Four Longitudinal Field Studies",
Management Science, vol. 46, 2000, pp. 186-204.
[35] A. Giangreco, "A Review of the Literature and a Discussion of Six
Issues in the Analysis of Resistance to Change", Cattaneo University
(LIUC) Papers in Economics, n. 79, Serie Economica Aziendale 7, 2000.
[36] K. J. Peszynski, and B. Corbitt, "Politics, Complexity, and Systems
Implementation", Social Science Computer Review Vol. 24, No. 3, Fall
2006, pp. 326-341.
[1] Y. Gabriel, and A. Carr, "Organizations, management and
psychoanalysis: an overview", J. Managerial Psychology, vol. 17, No. 5,
2002, pp. 348-365.
[2] Y. Gabriel. The Psychoanalysis of Organizations. Sage Publications
Ltd, 1999.
[3] A. Kersten, "Organizing for powerlessness. A Critical Perspective on
Psychodynamics and Dysfunctionality". J. Organizational Change
Management. 2001.
[4] D. Wastell. Learning Dysfunctions in Information Systems
Development: Overcoming the Social Defenses with Transitional
Objects, MIS Quarterly, 1999, 23(4), pp. 581-600.
[5] K. McGrath. "Affection not Affliction: The Role of Emotions in
Information Systems and Organizational Change". Information and
Organization. 2005. Volume 16. Issue 4.Pages: 277-303
[6] L. Lapointe, and S. Revard, "A Multilevel Model of resistance to
Information Technology Implementation", MIS Quarterly, Vol. 29, No.
3, September 2005, pp. 461-491.
[7] M. Markus, "Technochange Management: Using IT to Drive
Organizational Change". Journal of Information Technology, 2004, Vol.
19, No. 1, pp. 4-20.
[8] E. Davidson, and W. Chismar, "The Interaction of Institutionally
Triggered and Technology-Triggered Social Structure Change: An
Investigation of Computerized Physician Order Entry", MIS Quarterly,
2007.
[9] W. Bovey, and A. Hede, "Resistance to organisational change: the
role of defence mechanisms", Journal of Managerial Psychology. 2001
[10] T. Bowler, General System Thinking, Elsevier North Holland, Inc.,
1981
[11] W. Pasmore, and J. Sherwood, Sociotechnical Systems: A
Sourcebook, International Authors, United States, 1978
[12] N. Luhmann, (Translated by J. Bednarz), Social Systems, Stanford
University Press, Stanford, California, 1995
[13] N. Luhmann, (Translated by R. Barrett), Risk: A Sociological Theory,
Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, 1993, p.XII.
[14] B. Aubert, H. Barki, M. Patry, and V. Roy. "A Multi-level Multi-
Theory Perspective of Information Technology Implementation". Info
Systems, Vol 18, 2008, pp.45-72.
[15] H. Barki, and J. Hartwick, "Interpersonal Conflict and Its
Management in Information System Development". MIS Quarterly, June
2001, Vol. 29, No. 3, pp. 195-228
[16] G. Bullen. A Psychodynamic View of the Consulting Relationship: A
Case Study. University of South Africa. 2003
[17] A. Burton-Jones, and M. Gallivan, "Towards a Deeper Understanding
of System Usage in Organizations: A Multilevel Perspective". MIS
Quarterly, 2007.
[18] F. Alexander, Fundamentals of psychoanalysis, W.W. Norton &
Company, Inc. 1963.
[19] C. Brenner, An Elementary Textbook of Psychoanalysis, International
Universities Press, 1955.
[20] S. Freud, Civilization and its Discontents, The Hogarth Press,
London, 1930. Revised 1963. Reprinted 1969.
[21] H. Laughlin, The Ego and its Defenses, Meredith Corporation, 1970.
[22] S. Freud, Group Psychology, Liveright Publishing Corporation, New
York, 2nd Imp, 1967.
[23] D. Forsyth, Group Dynamics, 4th Ed., Thomson Wadsworth, 2006.
[24] D. Cartwright, and A. Zander. (Editors), Group Dynamics, Tavistock
Publications, New York, 1968.
[25] E. Ferneley, and P. Sobreperez, "Resist, Comply or Workaround: An
examination of different facets of user engagement with information
systems", European Journal of Information Systems, Vol. 15, No 4,
2006, pp. 345-356.
[26] Business Dictionary,
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/organization.html.
[27] Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organization.
[28] W. Samuelson, and R. Zeckhauser, "Status Quo Bias in Decision
Making", J. Risk and Uncertainty, 1988, pp. 7-59.
[29] I. Aaltio-Marjosola, "From a "Grand Story" to Multiple Narratives?
Studying an Organizational Change Project", Journal of Organizational
Change Management, Vol. 7 Iss. 5, 1994, pp.56-67.
[30] P. Sobreperez, E. Ferneley, and F. Wilson, "Tricks or Trompe L'Oeil?
An Examination Workplace Resistance in an Information Rich
Managerial Environment", Proceedings of the 13th European
Conference on Information Systems, Regensburg, Germany. 2005. Paper
41. pp. 484-494.
[31] L. Markus, "Power, politics, and MIS implementation",
Communications of ACM, 1983
[32] A. Parr, and G. Shank, "A model of ERP project implementation", J.
Information Technology, Vol. 15, No. 4, 2000, pp.289-303.
[33] A. Peslak, G. Subramanian, G. Clayton, "The Phases of ERP
Software Implementation and Maintenance: A Model for Predicting
Preferred ERP Use", J. Computer Information Systems, Vol. 47, Part. 2,
2008, pp. 25-33.
[34] V. Venkatesh, and F. Davis, "A Theoretical Extension of the
Technology Acceptance Model: Four Longitudinal Field Studies",
Management Science, vol. 46, 2000, pp. 186-204.
[35] A. Giangreco, "A Review of the Literature and a Discussion of Six
Issues in the Analysis of Resistance to Change", Cattaneo University
(LIUC) Papers in Economics, n. 79, Serie Economica Aziendale 7, 2000.
[36] K. J. Peszynski, and B. Corbitt, "Politics, Complexity, and Systems
Implementation", Social Science Computer Review Vol. 24, No. 3, Fall
2006, pp. 326-341.
@article{"International Journal of Business, Human and Social Sciences:58269", author = "Abbas Moshref Razavi and Rodina Ahmad", title = "Organization as System, Psychic Dynamism as Equilibration: A Conceptualization", abstract = "Organizations are supposed to be systems and
consequently require defining the notion of equilibrium within.
However, organizations comprise people and unavoidably entail their
irrational aspects. Then, the question is what is the organizational
equilibrium and equilibrating mechanisms considering these aspects.
Hence, some arguments are provided here to conceptualize human
unconsciousness, irrationalities and consequent uncertainties within
organizations in the form of a system of psychic dynamism. The
assumption is this dynamism maintains the psychic balance of the
organization through a psychodynamic point of view. The resultant
conceptualization expected to promote the understanding of such
aspects in different organizational settings by hypothesizing
organizational equilibration from this perspective. As a result, the
main expectation is, if it is known that how the organization
equilibrates in this sense, we can explain and deal with such
irrationalities and unconsciousness by rational and, of course
conscious, planning and accomplishing.", keywords = "Equilibration, General System Theory,Organization, Psychodynamic.", volume = "4", number = "10", pages = "2071-11", }
