Exploring the garbage can: A study of information flows

Abstract

The Garbage Can Model (GCM) has been used to study behavioral aspects of organizations and has been found to be a useful paradigm. In this study, the GCM has been used to study the behavioral implications of informal information systems of business entities. Currently little is known about this issue. As such, hypotheses are developed based upon the empirical findings which may provide a foundation for subsequent research. These hypotheses are: (1) problem senders and problem solvers are paramount in organizational problem identification, (2) both General and Problem type communications are correlated with and might result in Solution identification, (3) both General and Solution related communications are correlated with and might result in Problem identification, and (4) role stress is an important factor in the Problem-General-Solution communication linkage.