Abstract
Small companies face an increasingly turbulent business environment. They are traditionally ‘power’ cultures, with informal, chaotic, communication flows. This has enabled them to maintain flexibility. However, informal information is no longer enough in the face of complexity. These companies need to concentrate onformal information for traceability. Effective management of both formal and informal information enables these small companies to adapt to change. This paper explores information in a small company, using an in-depth case study. The work is of particular interest and value to the knowledge-intensive small company, one of the emerging types of company in Europe.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Banks, J.M. and Stone, C.L. (1995). Improving Business Performance Through Customers and Employees: The Results of a Survey of the Times Top 500. Total Quality and Innovation Management Centre, Anglia Polytechnic University.
Bateson, G. (1979) Mind and Nature: A Necessary Unity. Bantam, New York, USA.
Beaumont, J. and Sutherland, E. (1992). Information Resources Management. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford, UK.
Berger, P.L. and Luckman, T. (1966). The Social Construction of Reality. Doubleday, Garden City, NY, USA.
Blumentritt, R. and Johnson, R. (1999). Towards a Strategy for Knowledge Management,Technology Analysis and Strategic Management. 11(3). 287–300.
Bridge, S., O'Neill, K. and Cromie, S. (1988). Understanding Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Small Business. Macmillan Business, UK.
Checkland, P. (1981). Systems Thinking, Systems Practice Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Checkland, P. and Scholes, J. (1990). Soft Systems Methodology in Action. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Davenport, T. (1994). Saving ITs Soul: Human Centered Information Management,Harvard Business Review. March–April. 119–131.
DTI White Paper on Competitiveness (1998). Building the Knowledge Economy. (http//www.dti.gov.uk/comp/competitive/summary.htm), UK.
Earl, M. (1989). Information Management: The Strategic Dimension. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
Flood, F. and Jackson, M. (1991). Creative Problem Solving. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Fuller, T. (1994). Small Business Trends 1994–1998. Durham University Business School, June.
Geertz, C. (1973). The Interpretation of Cultures. Basic Books, New York, USA.
Goh, P.L. and Ridgeway, K. (1994) The Implementation of TQM in Small to Medium Manufacturing Enterprises,TOM Magazine. 6(2). 54–60.
Handy, C. (1993). Understanding Organisations (4th edn), Penguin, UK.
Joyce, P., Woods, A., McNulty, T. and Corrigan, P. (1990). Barriers to Change in Small Businesses: Some Cases from an Inner City Area,International Small Business Journal. 8(4). 49–58.
King, W., Hufnagel, E. and Grover, V. (1989). Using IT for Competitive Advantage. In Earl, M. (ed.)Information Management: The Strategic Dimension. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK.
Knight, A.V. and Silk, D.J. (1990). Managing Information: Information Systems for Today's General Manager. McGraw-Hill, New York, USA.
Land, F. (1987). Social Aspects of Information Systems. In Piercy, N. (ed.)MIS: The Technology Challenge. UWIST/Croom-Helm, UK.
Liebenau, J. and Backhouse, J. (1990). Understanding Information. Macmillan, UK.
Martin, V. (1999). ADAPT/CORE Final Report on Facilitated Learning Clusters. Dossier 1448. UK8.
Mintzberg, H. (1973). The Nature of Managerial Work. Harper & Row, New York, USA.
Morgan, G. (1986). Images of Organisation. Sage, Beverly Hills, CA, USA.
Mumford, E. and Henshall, D. (1979). A Participative Approach to Computer Systems Design. Associated Business Press, UK.
Nolan, R. (1979). Managing the Crises in Data Processing,Harvard Business Review. March–April. pp. 115–126.
Nonaka, I. and Takeuchi, H. (1995). The Knowledge Creating Company: How Japanese Companies Create the Dynamics of Innovation. Oxford University Press, Oxford, USA.
Porter, M. and Miller, V. (1985). How Information Gives You Competitive Advantage,Harvard Business Review. July–August. 149–160.
Punset, E. and Sweeny, G. (1990). Information Resources and Corporate Growth. Pinter, London, UK.
Puttick, J. and Gillis, J. (1995). Factory for the Future (Synopsis of Final Report, January), DTI, UK.
Ratcliffe-Martin, V. and Sackett, P. (1999). Focusing through the Information Fog,Manufacturing Engineer. February–March. 20–23.
Rothwell, R. (1989). Small Firms, Innovation and Industrial Change,Small Business Economics. 1. 34–54.
Shan, L., Pan., and Scarbrough, H. (1999). Knowledge Management in Practice: An Exploratory Case Study,Technology Analysis and Strategic Management. 11(3). 359–374.
Smircich, L. (1983). Concepts of Culture and Organisational Analysis,Administrative Science Quarterly.28(3). 339–358.
Vyadanam, S. and Leppard, J. (1995). Marketing Strategies for the Growing Business. Kogan Page, UK.
Walsham, G. (1993). Interpreting Information Systems in Organisations. Wiley, Chichester, UK.
Ward, J. (1995). Principles of Information Management. Routledge, London, UK.
Young, (1989). On the Naming of the Rose: Interest and Multiple Meanings as Elements of Organisational Culture.Organisational Studies.10(2). 187–206.
Zuboff, S. (Autumn 1985). Automate/Informate: The Two Faces of Intelligent Technology,Organisational Dynamics. 14(2), pp. 5–18.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ratcliffe-Martin, V., Sackett, P. Information and small companies: Chaos with intent. AI & Soc 15, 22–39 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01205736
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01205736