Information Politics Thomas H. Davenport, Robert G. Eccles and Laurence Prusak   Sloan Management Review, fall 1992, pp. 53 - 65

Presentation Themes Why do we need an information politics model? Models of information politics How to choose the right model Conclusions

Why Do We Need an Information Politics Model? Information based organizations largely a myth Many companies not yet able to manage politics of information As information becomes basis for organizational structure, politics will play a bigger role Much information at stake Businesses must address information itself and practices that generate information

Presentation Themes Why do we need an information politics model? Models of information politics How to choose the right model Conclusions

Models of Information Politics Technocratic Utopianism Anarchy Feudalism Monarch Federalism

Technocratic Utopianism: Summary Technical approach to information management Focus on information modeling and categorization Reliance on emerging technologies Assumption that technology will resolve all issues Attempt to address an organization’s entire information inventory

Technocratic Utopianism: Positives High efficiency and lack of data redundancy Can (uneasily) coexist with other information politics models

Technocratic Utopianism: Negatives Organizational and political issues assumed to be nonexistent or unmanageable Processes that produce information not a point of focus Low quality of information High access to information, but only by people who understand IT Senior management usually ignorant of IT Information produced by computer systems usually decoupled from information actually used to manage company

Anarchy: Summary Absence of over-arching information management policy Anarchy model usually not chosen consciously Individuals obtain and manage their own information Made possible by the growth of personal computers

Anarchy: Positives Quality of information likely to be high Individuals have access to own information

Anarchy: Negatives Redundant information processing Inefficient information storage Information discrepancies throughout the firm Personal databases can lead to inaccurate information across organization Low-commonality Data has different meanings across organization

Feudalism: Summary Most common model Distinct groups within organization define own information needs What information will be collected How it will be interpreted In what format it will be reported Report limited information to organization as a whole

Feudalism: Positives Possible for some degree of cooperation Executives can create strategic alliances to share information or create common networks or architecture

Feudalism : Negatives Least effective political model Easy to fall back on when other models fail Strong, independent groups restrict access to information under their control Information duplicated across the organization Reduces efficiency

Monarchy : Summary Centralized Firm leaders determine information categories and reporting structures Departments have little autonomy regarding information politics Executives may or may not share information collected Constitutional monarchy Document states monarchy’s limitations, subject’s rights, etc.

Monarchy: Positives Strong, top-down approach ensures common vocabulary Top executives make sure right processes generate right information used in the right way High level of efficiency

Monarchy : Negatives Limited access to information by non-executives High quality and efficient information gained at expense of access throughout organization Mortality CEO turnover can disrupt information management

Federalism: Summary Preferred model for many businesses Recognizes importance of politics Consensus and negotiation on organization’s key information elements and reporting structures Negotiation brings competing and non-competing parties together Strong central leadership Recognizes importance of politics “Federalism treats politics as a necessary and legitimate activity by which people with different interests work out among themselves a collective purpose and means for achieving it” Strong central leadership Culture encourages cooperation and learning Requires touch negotiating and a politically astute info manager Understand value of info itself and IT Can use understanding to create shared information vision Each unit contracts with executive and other realms to share assets and benefit from greater organization

Federalism: Positives Preferable in a culture that values widespread participation and empowerment Creates common vocabulary and shared information vision Balance between un-integrated independence of feudal units and undifferentiated units under monarchy Supports autonomy and coordination

Federalism: Negatives Satisfying all constituencies may require more information gathering than necessary Reduces efficiency Necessary compromises may reduce quality of information Difficult to achieve Requires a strong, charismatic information politician whose primary role is to facilitate sharing of information

Presentation Themes Necessity of information politics models Five Information Politics Models Choosing the right model Conclusions

Select an Information State Important to choose a single model Multiple models are confusing and use resources Practice politically astute information management Match organizational politics to organizational culture Technological realism Elect the right information politicians Avoid information empire-building

Select an Information State cont’d Important questions What models do people in the firm already hold? What model is most dominant? Which model is most desirable? How can it be achieved? Choose one model and move toward it, no matter how long it takes

Assessment Tools Evaluate model’s effectiveness Commonality of vocabulary and meaning Degree of access to important information Quality of information Currency, relevance, accuracy Efficiency of information management

Match Chosen Model to Organizational Politics cont’d Indicators of when culture is right for more democratic information politics Empower front-line workers to make decisions Work together to improve processes Remove fear as a motivator Information sharing is one of the last things to change when organization is changing its culture

Match Chosen Model to Organizational Politics “A firm’s culture must be conducive to participative information management and free information flow before they will happen. Put another way, information flow does not make an organizational culture less hierarchical and more open; rather, democratic culture makes possible democratic information flows” (p. 62)

Technological Realism Engineering should focus on specific issues Information organized into units managers can understand Forms, reports, etc. – not individual datasets Easy-to-use technology platforms Common, standardized technology Use technology to model and categorize verbal and visual information

Information Politicians Manager whose primary role is to facilitate use of information Able to persuade individuals and the masses of the importance of information management and the correctness of the chosen political model

Avoid Building Information Empires Information stewardship Corporation as a whole has responsibility for ensuring data quality Assigned throughout the corporation Responsibility for collecting, maintaining, and interpreting information should not be placed on one person

Presentation Themes Why do we need an information politics model? Models of information politics How to choose the right model Conclusions

Conclusions Effective management of information politics will require a shift in organizational culture Politics of information must be identified and managed for companies to move forward in the Information Age

Conclusions cont’d Monarchy and federalism are the only viable choices Federalism preferable in culture that wants widespread participation and empowerment, but harder to achieve Benevolent monarchy better for firms with difficulties achieving consensus