An Investigation on the Effects of Office Automation Systems on Organizational Productivity Indices (Case Study: Central Organization of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad)

Organizational communications are always considered a major issue in organizations. With the appearance of information and communication technologies, remarkable changes in this area has been taken face in organizations. This paper is based on a research field about office automation systems to investigate the effects of some organizational productivity indices. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad was typically selected for this purpose. The actuarial study population consists of approximately 300 employees of the university central organization. By using simple random sampling and Cochrane method, about 60 samples were selected. In order to achieve the goals of the present study, questionnaires containing various organizational productivity criteria were taken and respondents evaluated the effects of office automation on any of these criteria. Then using the opinions of sample members and Entropy Method, each criterion was prioritized in terms of influencing level from office automation system. Overall, the results showed that the sample members believe, among productivity criteria, the greatest impact of automation system is on the organization's ability to update executive and managerial methods, and improvement in accuracy and easiness of letter follow-up have received the least influence. Finally according to the specified priorities in this study future planning in implementing automation system and the way they affect productivity indicators could be managed efficiently. In this regard, authorities have to improve low productivity indices and promote them to higher levels.