Karl Weicks Theory of Organizing Why is the concept of equiv

Karl Weick’s Theory of Organizing. Why is the concept of “equivocality” important in the workplace environment?

Solution

Karl weicks theory of organizing is based on the process of flow of information. According to him, Orgainization is not a static process. It is dynamic in nature. Information is contiunously flowing into the organization. Success of organization lies in the fact that how effectively informations are channelized and interpreted to make it useful.

Most of the informations flowing are not clear. They are amibiguous in nature. Here ambiguity will mean more than one meaning can be formed from the information. It is known as \'equivocality\' of information. It is the task of organization to interpret the information in right direction. How it can be made has been explained by this theory.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Before looking at the process of refining flows of information, first consider the factors causing equivocality of information. They are explained below:

1. Every individual in the organization has unique experience. On the basis of their work experience, they form an unique set of values. as a result they interpret the information in their own way. As diffeent individuals possesses different set of experience, they interpret same information in different ways. It causes \'equivocality\'.

2. Most of the informations flowing into the organization are not quantitative. They are qualitative or subjective in nature. For subjective informations, boubndaries are not very often not clearly defined. It causes equivocality. Suppose a concept of desirable quality and undesirable quality has been flown in the organization. But the line distinguishing the two are not clearly defined. It will cause \'equivocality\' in information.

3. Sometimes same information is coming from different sources. They are conflicting and unreliable. It will increase ambiguity.

4. Communicationchannel is not clear. It is noisy. If communication channel is too long with multi layers, then \'equivocality\' is bound to increase.

5. Orgainstion is a system which can be divided into many subsystems. If there are many subsystems with conflicting interest, then, equivocality will increase.

6. Roles and responsibilities of each person/ group should be well defined. Other wise amibiguity/equivocality in information will grow.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Success of an organization depends upon how effectively equivocality in information is removed, so that organization can adopt to the changed environment. It is possible in following stages.

1. Enactment: It is process through which all informations are analyzed and refined. Lots of trial and erorsare carried out. If informations are overlapping and have same maening screen them out and leave one of them. If line of interpretation are not available, then make an analysis to form a clear way of making the interpretation. It will remove doubt and make it effective. It is done by applting external experience on available data.

2. Selection: After clearing the points of heaziness and duplication of same ideas, only few maeningful ideas will be left. In selction process remaining interpretations are evaluated.and best one is selected. Decision maker of the oeganization has the vital role at this staze.

3. Retention: Finally you have to decide whether selected best ideawill be retained or not. If the idea is meaningful, feasible and expected to add value to the organization, then retain it. Apply the retained information to adjust the organization with changed environment.

Thus above analysis has made an useless information into a sensible and meaningful idea. This idea will help in the betterment of the organization. It will add some value to the concern. It is known as \'sensemaking\'. This theory is important in workplace environment to convert an equivocal information into a sensemaking idea.