TowardAmodelOfOrganizationsAsInterpretationSystems

Model of Organizational Interpretation Modes

		Organizational Intrusiveness
		Passive	Active
Assumptions about environment	Unanalyzable	UNDIRECTED VIEWING Constrained interpretations, Nonroutine, informal data, Hunch, rumor, chance opportunities.	ENACTING Experimentation, testing, coercion, invent environment. Learn by doing.
Assumptions about environment	Analyzable	CONDITIONED VIEWING Interprets within traditional boundaries. Passive detection. Routine, formal data.	DISCOVERING Formal search. Questioning, surveys, data gathering. Active detection.

Relationship Between Interpretation Modes and Organizational Processes

		Organizational Intrusiveness
		Passive	Active
Assumptions about environment	Unanalyzable	UNDIRECTED VIEWING Scanning Characteristics: 1. Data sources: external, personal. 2. Acquisition: no scanning department, irregular contacts and reports, casual information. Interpretation Process: 1. Much equivocality reduction 2. Few rules, many cycles Strategy and Decision Making: 1. Strategy: reactor. 2. Decision process: coalition building.	ENACTING Scanning Characteristics: 1. Data sources: external, personal. 2. Acquisition: no department, irregular reports and feedback from environment, selective information. Interpretation Process: 1. Some equivocality reduction 2. Moderate rules and cycles Strategy and Decision Making: 1. Strategy: prospector. 2. Decision process: incremental trial and error.
Assumptions about environment	Analyzable	CONDITIONED VIEWING Interprets within traditional boundaries. Passive detection. Routine, formal data.	DISCOVERING Formal search. Questioning, surveys, data gathering. Active detection.