Organizational structure effect on communication efficiency for management information system supported organizations: A Delphi study

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects a bureaucratic organizational structure has on communication capability of management information systems to develop a new organizational design alternative. The study used a qualitative method with supporting quantitative data to collect information from a set of participants. A Delphi study was used to allow 15 experts in the field to share their knowledge and beliefs using collective intelligence to achieve consensus during a three round process. The results identified traditional organizational structures create vertical and horizontal boundaries impeding communication. The findings determined the critical aspects to improve communication through the reduction of boundaries was direct leadership support for a centralized management information system team with clear responsibility, accountability and authority to facilitate organizational communication. The recommendation was an organizational design composed of an Integrated Product Organization at the leadership level with membership at the sub-team level utilizing Cross-Integrated Teams. The benefit is an organizational design with a centralized team for common solution to mitigate horizontal boundaries and working level support to mitigate vertical boundaries. The recommendation may improve organizational communication to facilitate organizational success for leaders.