tems function will change; if not in personnel strength (which may remain unchanged, increase, or decrease), at least in the criticality of its organizational role, and in the way that the information systems function of the organization is perceived by other elements of the organization. The problem that will be investigated in the proposed research study is expressed in the following research questions:
1. How will organizational downsizing affect the personnel strength of the information systems function of the organization?
2. How will organizational downsizing affect the way in which information is used within the organization?
3. How will organizational downsizing affect the information is accessed within the organization?
4. How will organizational downsizing affect the internal organizational structure of the information systems function of the organization?
5. How will organizational downsizing affect the organizational role of the organizational information systems function?
Downsizing is a complex process that affects not only the internal functions of an organization, but that also affects the activities of an organization within its external environment. A wide range of actions and effects areùboth internal and external ùare associated with a downsizing program. The proposed research will investigate only those aspects of the downsizing process than may be expected to affect the organizational information systems function.
Structure of the Remainder of the Research Proposal
The following chapter reviews literature relevant to the problem to be investigated. The literature reviewed covers developments that have led to organizational decisions to downsize, and developments within information technology cause downsizing to be a feasible strategic option. The last chapter of this proposal describes a the research methodology that will be followed in the conduct of the proposed study.
Liter...