First Advisor

Charles Tracy

Date of Publication

12-2-1993

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Urban Studies

Department

Urban Studies

Language

English

Subjects

United States. Bonneville Power Administration -- Communication systems -- Evaluation, Information resources management -- Evaluation

DOI

10.15760/etd.6561

Physical Description

1 online resource (3, vii, 243 p.)

Abstract

This is a case study of a federal bureaucracy and its Information Resource Management (IRM) organization. The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), a federal power marketing agency and part of the Department of Energy, significantly impacts the western United States. BPA is responsible for developing electric power resources, transmission of electric resources. power conservation programs, and fish and wildlife programs. The focus of the study is the perception of the quality of information supplied to management, assuming that better information makes better decisions. The study uses a pre-experimental research design to evaluate the satisfaction executive and middle management with information they use to make decisions. The study uses both questionnaire and interview methodologies to examine management opinions before the establishment of IRM and two years after the establishment of IRM. Literature on bureaucracy indicates that decision making has limits and processes. Channels of communication, both formal and subformal are used by decision makers to gather information to fill information gaps. The gaps exist because formal channels of information do not supply sufficient information. Consequently, decision makers constantly search for information. There is a great deal of literature addressing IRM and other similar organizations. The technical and operational sides of information management are occasionally conflicting but, adequately addressed. Information assessment and evaluation are approached inadequately.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Comments

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Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/27288

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