Task Characteristics and Organizational Problem Solving in Technological Process Change

This paper develops a framework that distinguishes two key characteristics of technological change in the manufacturing process. While technical complexity refers to the number and uniqueness of new components, systemic shift refers to changes in production principles and relationships. Descriptive evidence from a sample of new process introductions suggests that organizations employ different modes of problem solving to respond to different characteristics of change. Successful projects illustrate the need to fit the problem solving approach used to the characteristics of the task facing the adopting organization.

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