Employee Information Processing Behaviors Before and After a Corporate Downsizing

Abstract The majority of research on organizational information processing has been based in stable organization contexts. This paper, however, examines information processing behaviors within a Fortune 500 organization that experienced a substantial downsizing, namely, a drastic reduction in both financial and human resources. Addressed in this predownsizing and postdownsizing context were the following research questions: To what extent does the fit between an individual's information processing activities and task work predict not being laid off during an organizational downsizing?, and, Will the information processing behaviors of the individuals constrict in response to the downsizing? Results indicate that individuals in the predownsizing context who exhibited a better fit between their information processing behaviors and their task environment were more likely to have both retained their jobs and constricted their information processing behaviors after the downsizing episode. However, even with th...

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