A Tentative Exploration into the Amount and Equivocality of Information Processing in Organizational Work Units

TLDR

A model links the amount and equivocality of information processing to task variety and analyzability in work units. The authors developed new questionnaire scales for information and task variables and tested the model in 24 work units. Results show that information processing increases with task variety and analyzability, equivocal information use decreases with analyzability, and the expected positive link between task uncertainty and information processing is moderated.

Abstract

? 1981 by Cornell University 0001 -839218112602-02071$00.75 A model is proposed that relates the amount and equivocality of information processing to thevariety and analyzability of work-unit activities. New questionnaire scales were developed for the information and task variables, and an exploratory test of the model was conducted on 24 work units. The reported amount of information processing increased with both task variety and analyzability; the reported use of equivocal information decreased with task analyzability. The findings suggest a modification of the previously reported positive relationship between task uncertainty and amount of information processing