Topic 7.

2
Adaptive Structuration Theory

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 Learning outcomes:

At the end of this topic, student is expected to be

able to:
1. Describe the Adaptive Structuration Theory.
2. Explain the theory assumptions.
3. Discuss the theory applications.

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Introduction
• Introduced by Anthony Giddens (1979).
• Describes how social institutions,
reproduced and transformed through the
use of social rules.
• M. Scott Poole, further developed the
AST- believes that group members
intentionally adapt rules and resources to
accomplish goals of the groups.

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Assumptions
1. Groups and organizations are produced and
reproduced through the use of rules and
resources;
2. Communication rules serve as both the
medium for, and an outcome of, interactions;
3. Power structures are present in organizations
and guide the decision-making process by
providing us with information on how best to
accomplish our goals.

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Assumptions
4. Evolution is part of group and organization
process (role of technology advancement).
5. Groups or organizations as a systems - that the
patterns of relationships and communicative
interaction among people creating structures
can be observed.
6. Systems are produced by actions of people
creating structures (sets of rules and resources).

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The structuration process can be very
stable, or it can change substantial
over time.

The rules and resources evolve to

meet the goals of the organization.

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 Structuration occurs
Marshall Scott Poole constantly in all
social systems
including in
organizations.

Structure is both a
manifestation and a
product of
communication in
organization.

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Two types of Organizational
communication in formal
structure in organizations structure is created
 Indirect way of telling when individuals
employees about the communicate with
organization – values,
procedures, methods
each others in three
centers of
 A way in which members can structuration.
talk about the organization
within their organization

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Centers of structuration

• The episodes of
organizational life in
Conception making decisions and
choices

• The formal codification

Implementation and announcement of
decisions and choices

• The act that is in

accordance with the
Reception organizational
decisions

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Application
1. AST focus more in social cultures, rule and
resource.
2. Rules may affect a person how they work in a
group.
3. New member join in the group, new resource
also can be shared in the group. For example,
knowledge, friendship, experience and so on
4. Rules can be changed if negative thing happen
in the group such as bullying.
5. New rules must be adopted and reinforce over
time.
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 ADAPTATION OF ICT
Speed up the process of decision making
Constant modification of the rules to better suit their needs.
Maintain stability by altering its structure to keep up with
the environment change
Encourages more participation in the brainstorming effort
simultaneously at no/less cost.
betterment of the communication system due to the
computer-aided human interaction within the group.
Expand the corporate culture by enriching it rules and
resources through the use of ICT.
Enable organization/group to have a wider shared network

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