A model of the effects of change in communication technology on the sources of information for organizational decision making

The technology supporting computer assisted communication (CAC) is becoming an increasingly significant factor affecting the decision-making process. Current models do not adequately represent this situation.

A framework is synthesized from literature representing three fields of study: management information systems, communication, and decision making. The framework views all available decision-making information as either currently residing In the mind of the decision maker or being provided through communication sources. Furthermore, the communication sources are divided into a formal (system supplied) versus informal (non-system supplied) dichotomy.

A conceptual model is then created, based on the framework, that is useful in qualitatively assessing the effects of installing or upgrading CAC on the decision-making information that is available to the decision maker.

This model Is then used as a basis for analyzing some of the cost/benefit tradeoffs of employing CAC. The primary contribution of this research is a model that provides a tool for analyzing the effects of CAC technology on the source of decision-making information and on the cost of making decisions using CAC.