Understanding Technology-Structure Relationships: Theory Development and Meta-Analytic Theory Testing

Theoretical models concerning technology-structure relationships usually are limited to one technology variable, one structure variable, and one contingency variable. A study develops and tests more encompassing and potentially more valid models. Contrary to the most common explanations of mixed results on technology-structure relationships, the results of a meta-analytic theory testing indicate that the use of different definitions of technology and variation in organizational size generally do not affect these relationships. Further, the results indicate that 2 previously neglected contingency variables - professionalization and industrial sector - generally do not affect technology-structure relationships. However, 2 method variables - industrial sector heterogeneity and the size of the units of analysis - do affect technology-structure relationships.