The Effects of Decentralised Organisational Structures on the Adoption of Work Management Software in SMEs
Author
Chaar, Rony
Term
4. Semester
Publication year
2023
Pages
103
Abstract
Flere organisationer bevæger sig mod mere decentraliserede strukturer, fordi de forventes at lette forandringer. Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan decentralisering påvirker SMV’ers ibrugtagning af software til planlægning og koordinering af arbejdet (work management software), da udfordringerne ofte er undervurderet og underbelyst. Studiet bygger på kvalitative interviews med fire branchefolk fra fire danske SMV’er og analyseres med både klassiske og moderne organisations- og teknologiadoptionsteorier. Alle virksomheder havde gjort en indsats for at blive mere decentraliserede, om end i forskelligt omfang i praksis. I analysen var kontingensteori særligt nyttig til at forstå, hvordan struktur bør passe til virksomhedens situation, og en moderne systemtilgang var relevant for at beskrive disse organisationers design. Inden for Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) havde 'results demonstrability' – hvor tydeligt gevinsterne kan ses – stor indflydelse på, om software blev taget i brug. Effekterne af decentralisering på software-ibrugtagning omfattede både fordele og ulemper. Fordelene stemte overens med eksisterende litteratur: hurtigere ibrugtagning, større fleksibilitet og højere indre motivation (TAM’s 'computer playfulness', dvs. at det er sjovt at bruge teknologien). Ulemper, som trådte frem i dette studie, var risiko for manglende sammenhæng på tværs af teams, lavere outputkvalitet og unøjagtig håndtering af deadlines. En central indsigt er, at fordelene ved decentralisering kan blive opvejet af ulemperne, hvis der ikke er etableret klare, standardiserede procedurer for kommunikation, arbejdsgange og faglig afstemning. Ledere, iværksættere og forretningsudviklere bør derfor etablere sådanne standarder, før de forventer at høste gevinsterne ved decentralisering i forbindelse med ny software.
A growing number of organisations are moving toward decentralised structures because they are seen as helpful for change. This thesis examines how decentralisation affects small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) when they adopt work management software—tools for planning and coordinating work—because the challenges are often understated and underexplored. The study draws on qualitative interviews with four industry professionals from four Danish SMEs and uses both classical and modern theories to guide the analysis. All four companies had made efforts to decentralise, though to different degrees in practice. Contingency Theory proved useful for understanding how structure should fit the firm’s situation, and a modern systems approach helped describe the organisational design of these firms. Within the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), 'results demonstrability'—how clearly benefits can be seen—had a particularly strong influence on whether software was adopted. The effects of decentralisation on adoption included both advantages and drawbacks. Advantages, consistent with prior literature, were faster adoption, greater flexibility, and higher intrinsic motivation (TAM’s 'computer playfulness', meaning users enjoy the technology). Drawbacks that emerged in this study were a tendency toward weaker cohesion across teams, lower output quality, and inaccurate handling of deadlines. A key insight is that the benefits of decentralisation for software adoption can be outweighed by its downsides when clear, standardised procedures for communication, workflows, and professional alignment are absent or weak. Managers, entrepreneurs, and business developers should therefore establish these standards before expecting to realise the promised benefits of decentralisation.
[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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