O impacto da tecnologia de infomação na configuração estrutural da expoente informatica

Abstract

Resumo: A presente pesquisa objetivou analisar a relacao entre a tecnologia de informacao e configuracao estrutural. A tecnologia de informacao foi operacionalizada mediante identificacao e levantamento dos equipamentos, dos softwares, das redes de transmissao utilizados no processamento de informacoes na empresa. A estrutura organizacional foi analisada por meio dos indicadores: formalizacao, centralizacao, complexidade (diferenciacao horizontal do trabalho e diferenciacao vertical do trabalho) e integracao normativa. A organizacao escolhida foi a Expoente Informatica, empresa nacional do ramo de software educativo. O periodo de analise esta compreendido entre 1994 e 1998. O metodo utilizado foi o estudo de caso simples. O nivel de analise, o organizacional, e a unidade de analise, a organizacao em estudo. A pesquisa caracterizou-se como nao-experimental, com perspectiva seccional e avaliacao longitudinal. A analise dos dados foi realizada sob a perspectiva descritiva, com a adocao de tecnicas quantitativas (estatisticas) simples. Utilizou-se, tambem, a analise documental e a analise de conteudo. Os dados coletados sao de dois tipos, secundarios e primarios. Compuseram os dados secundarios publicacoes da organizacao, documentos internos e paginas da Internet. Os dados primarios foram coletados por meio de entrevistas estruturadas, realizadas com 07 (sete) funcionarios, 01 (um) do nivel estrategico, 03 (tres) do nivel tatico e 03 (tres) do nivel operacional. Os equipamentos e softwares empregados na producao dos softwares educativos sofreram alteracao no periodo estudado. Outra modificacao foi observada na midia de gravacao do produto que, em 1996, passou a ser feita em Compact Disc. Houve aumento no numero de niveis hierarquicos na organizacao. O numero de cargos diferenciados existentes nos niveis estrategico, tatico e operacional, a forma de execucao das tarefas e a quantidade de pessoas nos cargos variaram, a medida que a tecnologia se foi alterando. Num primeiro momento, registrou-se aumento no numero de funcionarios nos cargos operacionais. Houve a criacao do cargo de diretor de informatica educativa. Observou-se aumento significativo na responsabilidade e quantidade de trabalho, que ficou mais cansativo, exaustivo e complexo. As normas de trabalho, escritas e incorporadas, passaram a se apresentar mais gerais e amplas; muitas deixaram de existir por terem sido internalizadas pelos funcionarios. Foi incluida a fase de masterizacao na Metodologia de desenvolvimento dos softwares; os procedimentos de testes e validacao tornaram-se mais detalhados, complexos e tensos. As documentacoes que acompanham os projetos ficaram mais pormenorizadas e numerosas. As instrucoes e os procedimentos de trabalho passaram a ser mais exaustivos. Os controles de producao e os programas de trabalho registraram modificacao na grande maioria dos indicadores, passando a se apresentar mais numerosos e detalhados. A comunicacao interna modificou-se com a introducao da Intranet e Internet na empresa. A partir da aquisicao tecnologica, observou-se a centralizacao das decisoes. Houve modificacao em todos os mecanismos de socializacao organizacional, para os tres niveis hierarquicos; porem os funcionarios do nivel operacional se sentiram mais integrados a empresa, a medida que esta investiu em tecnologia. Concluiu-se que os dados, de forma geral, corroboraram as hipoteses de pesquisa.

Abstract: The objective of this research was to analyze the relation between information technology and structural configuration. Information technology was observed through the inventory of equipments, softwares, network transmissions utilized on enterprise information's procedures. Structural configuration was measured through of indicators, formalization, centralization, complexity (horizontal and vertical differentiation work) and normative integration. The choosed organization was Expoente Informatica, national enterprise of educational software line, from 1994 to 1998. The research design was a single-case study. Analysis level and analysis unity were the organizational and organization on study, respectively. The research was characterized by non-experimental with sectional perspective and longitudinal evaluation. The data analysis was made under a descriptive perspective, with adoption of single quantitative techniques (statistics), by methods of documental analysis and content analysis. The collected data were obtained from primary and secondary sources. The secondary data were several organizational publications and internal documents and Internet Homepages. The primary data were collected through structured interviews with 07 (seven) employees, 01 (one) from strategic level, 03 (three) from tactic level and 03 (three) from operational level. Equipments and softwares employed on educational software productions were changed on the period. Another modification was observed in the media record from product that in 1996 change to Compact Disc. An increase on the number of hierarchical levels on organization was also observed. The number of differentiated posts existent on strategic, tactic and operational levels, the way to execute tasks and amount of persons in the posts was varied in so far as technology was changing. In the first moment, increase of the number of employees on operational posts was registered. Management educate computer post was created. Significative increase occurred on responsibility and work quantity, that became more tiring, exhaustive and complex. The work rules, written and internal, became to present general and reach. A lot of these rules were left cause was internalized by employees. Masterization phase was included in methodology of softwares production. The tests and validation procedures became more detailed, complex and tense. Documentation that accompanied projects became more detailed and numerous. Work instructions and procedures became more exhaustive. Production controls and work programs registered modification in the majority of indicators, became to present more numerous and detailed. Internal communication changed with the introduction of Intranet and Internet. Besides technology acquisition watched centralization of decisions. All the organizational socialization mechanisms, in the three hierarchical levels were changed. However, employees from operational level felt more integrated to enterprise, while this invested in technology. It was concluded that data, in general, corroborated with the hypothesis of this research.