Information and Communication Technology and the Organization of Corporate Space

정보통신기술과 기업공간의 재조직

This study investigates the nature and patterns of interrelation between the emerging information and communication technology(ICT) and the organization of corporate space, both theoretically and empirically. In this work, ICT is conceptualized not so much a space-adjusting technology as an organizational technology. ICT is considered as a governance technology which is related to coordination function within a firm. Therefore, it is supposed to have a great relevance to the spatial reorganization of functions within a firm. Both questionnaire and case study method are used to gather necessary data from Korean electronics manufactures. The results of this study can be summarized as follow. First, the spatial structure of a firm, which is operationalised as the number and type of spatially separated establishments, is turned out to have a great explanatory power to its adoption of computer networks. Computer networks in muli-locational companies are introduced to overcome the limits of its spatial structure, such as duplication of functions, such as duplication of functions, loss of time spent in proceeding a job between different functional units, and unresponsiveness to the change of market demand. Second, new spatial division of labor and function could be possible through a series of business process reengineering, not through the mere adoption of ICT. Case studies reveal that computer network could help a firm to realize new forms of spatial division of labor, especially in those functions which is mainly based on the flow of information. Such function as ICT management, sales logistics and after-sales service are major parts where a new operational unit has appeared with the help of ICT. From above results, it can be concluded that the interrelations between ICT and organizational space should be approached intimately integrated with the change of industrial structure and it's organizational implications.