DOES ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE MATTER? AN ADAPTIVE SIMULATION APPROACH FOR INVESTIGATING INFORMATION PROCESSING STRUCTURES IN ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract

We adopt the view of organizations as information processing entities. As such, we propose that various exogenous and endogenous factors should affect the performance of organizations with respect to information processing tasks. We present a methodology for modeling organizational structures and for determining which organizational structures, if any, distinguish themselves given various constraints. Our methodology relies upon computer simulations that combine Monte Carlo methods and genetic algorithms to represent dynamic organizational operating environments and competition among firms, respectively.