Information technology and dilemmas in organizational learning

The relevance of information technology is becoming crucial for most organizations. Learning processes and coordination arrangements are deeply influenced by technological advances. Empirical evidence shows that complex and apparently contradictory outcomes usually result from significant investments in new technologies, while traditional conceptual approaches often fail to provide articulated and convincing interpretations of those changes. As a useful starting point to overcome interpretive “dilemmas”, this paper proposes to rethink the concept of technology, and to reconsider the relationship between learning processes and coordination arrangements. If changes are related to the different organizational decision levels, contradictory empirical findings become easier to interpret. Examples taken from research into the use of CAD systems in Italian firms in the packaging machinery industry are given.