Information Systems Theory
By Karl Weick



Introduction

This site focuses on Information Systems, an interesting theory developed by Karl Weick. The information on this site is provided by Brad Dyer, Marion Dudass, Traci Paxton, and Sara Vorkavich. It is our goal to provide accurate and reliable information that will give a better understanding of Weick's Information Systems Theory.


Wieck's Information Theory discusses the transmission of information and the ways of reducing uncertainty. According to Em Griffin in his book A First Look at Communication the "Goal to organizing is to make sense of equivocal information(262) When words or events are equivocal, people do not need more information. What people need is a filter to screen out interpretations that can turn out to be counterproductive. When information is handled by organizers they go through three stages called enactment, selection, and retention.

Enactment: Don't just sit there; Do something

In this process individuals begin the process of dealing with information. Weick states that the only way to fail the test of organizing is by doing nothing. Weick suggests to managers: Act, then think!: Leap, then look!: Ready, fire, aim!

Selection: Retrospective Sensemaking

During this process equivocally is reduced by deciding which information should be dealt with and which information should be ignored. Weick claims the more equivocal the information to process, the more communication cycles it requires to reduce ambiguity to an acceptable level.

Retention: Treat memory as a Pest

Retention is what information that an individual or organizations remember. Weick recommends treating the memory as a pest. He encourages continually challenging, arguing, and questioning what you think you know. This allows organizations to avoid groupthink and to inspire critical thinking.

I hope that you find this site interesting and useful in reaching a better understanding of information systems theory. I strongly recommend entering into the sites at the bottom of the page and for further information.



For an intriguing critique on Information Theory check out Sara's work.

For a look at an application of Information Theory check out Marion's work.

To see a research report on Information Theory check out Traci's. work.

If you would like to learn more about Information Theory visit Karl Weick's homepage.

Visit a site on Information Theory that focuses on the transmission of information between a sender and the receiver. This relates to Weick's theory that the goal of organizing is to make sense of equivocal information.

This page was last revised by Brad Dyer at (http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~bd597397/IS.html )on 11/17/99