2. HISTORY AND ORIENTATION
Adaptive Structuration Theory is based on
Anthony Gidden’s structuration theory. This theory is
formulated as “the production and reproduction of the
social systems through member’s use of rules and
resources in interaction. DeSanctis and Poole adapted
Gidden’s theory to study the interactions of groups and
organizations with information technology and called it
Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST).
Adaptive Structuration Theory is a theory about
group communication. Developed by Marshall Scott
Poole, it takes a critical look at the linear models of
communication. It believes that group dynamics are too
complicated to be reduced to a predictable chain of
events because group members seek to affect
outcomes intentionally. This may be through adapting
rules and resources in order for a goal to be
accomplished.
3. The core idea:
“Members in groups are creating the group as
they act within it…A lot of times people in
groups build up structures or arrangements
that are very uncomfortable for them, but they
don’t realize that they’re doing it. The point of
stucturation theory is to make them aware of
the rules and resources that they’re using so
that they can have more control over what
they do in groups”.
- Marshall Scott
Poole
4. Adaptive Structuration Theory Focuses on Social
Interactions
Humans base many of their decisions for
activity off their social structures. For this reason,
Adaptive Structuration Theory focuses on the
social rules, resources, and structures that are
created by institutions and technology today.
Because social behaviors and technology are
evolving and becoming more intertwined, each is
shaping the other and this is creating the
foundation of for group decisions.
5. This creates 7 propositions that are the foundation of
this communication theory.
1. Information technologies provides a social structure
that can be described by is features, spirit and
intent. It encourages interaction by offering an
interface for source materials, such as a product
manual, user observations, or public consumer
reviews.
2. The structures of information technologies vary
based on the task at hand, the environment, and
other contingencies that may be in place. The
complexity of the task formalizes the social
connections and encourages communication.
6. 3. New sources of structure emerge when the
information technology, task structures, and the
environment are correctly applied when social
interactions are taking place.
4. Group interactions that occur as rules and
resources are appropriated will also give rise to
new social structures. This also provides the
potential of reproducing the group interaction in
the future.
5. Group decisions will vary based on the
information technology appropriations that take
place.
7. 6. Information technology appropriations are
variable, dependent upon the internal
system of the group,
7. Desired outcome can be achieved when all
of the sources of social structure,
appropriation, and decision-making are able
to fit the task that must be completed.
8. Adaptive Sructuration Theory can be implemented at
any level.
At the micro-level, group communication tends
to look at individual processes, procedures, and
outcomes. The goal is to achieve a specific result
by specific individual.
At the institutional level, you have several sub-
groups that help to create consistent patterns of
productivity across teams, user types, and
organizations. Technology is used to provide each
sub-group with the opportunity to evolve in a way
that best supports the overall mission that is being
used as a guiding force.
9. For the global level, the theory is
applied to the course of a meeting, a series
of meetings, or other events that may take
place. This allows the social structures of
the group to be used as a way to absorb the
information that has been presented,
disseminate it with accuracy, and do so with
relative speed
10. What Are the Strengths of Adaptive Structuration
Theory?
The primary strength of this theory is that it helps
groups be able to facilitate between differences that
may be in play. It allows each group to accurately
communicate the benefits of each idea in real-time
so that a potential compromise or understanding
can be reached.
This theory also accounts for the structural potential
that modern technology can provide. At the same
time, it allows for each level to understand what the
impacts of that technology will be so that
communication can still be precise.
11. It allows groups to see how they organize
themselves, providing the foundation that
may be needed for a specific outcome or an
organizational change.
It is a complex process that can be difficult
and confusing. It is a theory that is not
grounded in ethical assumptions, but it does
help a group be able to understand its own
structure so that a specific outcome can be
achieved.
