Abstract: | Some current authors of management theory suggest that formal systems and procedures are inconsistent with innovative behaviour in organizations. Yet many organisations are developing increasingly formal strategic planning and control systems to assure organisational change and responsiveness to dynamic environments. In this article, the author suggests that these trends are not as paradoxical as they initially seem. However, formal systems design—to assists the innovation process—must exhibit different characteristics from the traditional design methods used by systems analysts, industrial engineers, or writers of policies and procedures. |