...Better Solutions to Information Overload Substantial information overload is present in every organization. I can recall specifically working in the Marketing/IT department for a small computer outsourcing firm several years ago in Omaha, Nebraska. The company’s business model was to show potential clients that outsourcing their finance, IT and HR department’s data systems with their firm could save them tremendously short and long term. The company invested millions of dollars into state-of-the-art data storage facilities that housed numerous amounts of data. These storage facilities could withstand everything mother nature could through at it. In 1998, this was a great business model, considering the millennium bug or Y2K problem was the hot IT issue. At the same time, I thought it was a strike contrast that a small, up and coming IT company would neglect internal issues that would impede their employees from making the company competitive. The company decided to implement an internal website or intranet as the focal point for retrieving data. The company’s intranet had an abundance of information that was injected with data from a barrage of sources. According to a 2009 report by Watson Wyatt, “only 50% of employees accessed the intranet on a daily basis; 80% said their company’s system needed improvement; and 50% said searching on their intranet was too difficult” (Nasiri, 2009). Based on my past experiences, I think organizations are likely to find better solutions...
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...APPLICATION OF SOCIO-TECHNICAL APPROACH FOR MANAGING INFORMATION OVERLOAD Social-Technical Perspective: A solution for Managing Information Overload tzfinest Trident University International APPLICATION OF SOCIO-TECHNICAL APPROACH IN MANAGING INFORMATION OVERLOAD Abstract This paper argues for the relevance and utility of socio-technical theory for designing solutions to the challenges we face from managing the impact of information overload. A consequence of information overload can cause serious damage to an organization performance. Socio-technical systems theory defines systems as a collection of messy, complex, problem-solving components. This approach suggests a balance between the social and technical systems which together make up an organization. The paper suggests that socio-technical approach, purport that in order for organizations to create and store their knowledge they must consider the balance between the social and technical systems which make up an organization. Effective knowledge management is a combination of the appropriate use of technology in each stage with the humanistic use of people within the organizations. A socio-technical framework...
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...Feeling overwhelmed by too much information? What else is new? Are we having an information overload? Yes, enough to strike terror into the hardiest of managers. In today’s society our management experiences fail because they cannot deal with the overload of change or to much information coming at them. Though we have been dealing with this issue of overload for millions of years, we still don’t know how to manage or distinguish between our short term or long term storage. So let’s think about the helpful information tools and systems that have been given to us for a minute. These social and behavioral functions help us but will the technology of it all win in the long run by simplifying our management skills. Amy Blair has recently done a very intriguing summary of just why information overload isn't something that we, or still less our kids, dreamed up -- people have been drowning in data for ages regardless of the tools at their disposal. People complain of to many books to read and more than two pages of Google articles is to much for the average reader to read. The complaint of this is also common in other cultural traditions, like the Chinese, built on textual accumulation around a canon of classics. This makes it overwhelming and causes emotional reactions, whether they are hostile or enthusiastic. Overload has also triggered pragmatic responses, as generations have done their best to locate and use the information they seek, under inevitable constraints of time...
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...expanding global reach this comes some disadvantages. The advantages are; The speed of which information can be sent from one person to one or more persons. Email reduces geographic barriers that previously would of took days, weeks or months to receive. With the speed of information being transferred from one or more persons, efficiency leads to higher productivity. Filing and recalling dialogue that has transpired is easy to filter, recalling proposals from others outside of your organization can be quickly done and avoiding the time it would of took to go through reams of papers. Prioritizing email based off subject lines increase the user’s productivity at a glance by determining as to whom the correspondence is from and what it relates too. With traditional methods such as mail it took time to arrive, open, sort and file. Marketing information can now reach a wider audience which would benefit from the use of products. Expenses are reduced due to the use of email, cost savings are seen in a reduction of postage by utilizing free web based services such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail etc. General postage prior to email could of ran hundreds of dollars a month while internet does incur cost the saving and productivity are still less than traditional methods. The disadvantages are; Individuals are receiving more emails than they can digest which leads to information overload more so than ever with email being a 24/7 service and those who tend to “tune-in” all hours...
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...In Defense of Distraction Twitter, Adderall, lifehacking, mindful jogging, power browsing, Obama’s BlackBerry, and the benefits of overstimulation. Add a Comment 1 Comment | Add Yours 70 Comments | Add Yours * By Sam Anderson * Published May 17, 2009 | Illustration by Glen Cummings/MTWTF (Photo: Anderson Ross/Corbis) | I. The Poverty of Attention I’m going to pause here, right at the beginning of my riveting article about attention, and ask you to please get all of your precious 21st-century distractions out of your system now. Check the score of the Mets game; text your sister that pun you just thought of about her roommate’s new pet lizard (“iguana hold yr hand LOL get it like Beatles”); refresh your work e-mail, your home e-mail, your school e-mail; upload pictures of yourself reading this paragraph to your “me reading magazine articles” Flickr photostream; and alert the fellow citizens of whatever Twittertopia you happen to frequent that you will be suspending your digital presence for the next twenty minutes or so (I know that seems drastic: Tell them you’re having an appendectomy or something and are about to lose consciousness). Good. Now: Count your breaths. Close your eyes. Do whatever it takes to get all of your neurons lined up in one direction. Above all, resist the urge to fixate on the picture, right over there, of that weird scrambled guy typing. Do not speculate on his ethnicity (German-Venezuelan?) or his backstory (Witness Protection Program?)...
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...Social-Technical Perspective: A solution for Managing Information Overload In my opinion, organizations are likely to find better solutions thru informational overload using technical and social systems. Information overload has an ability to cause negative effects on an organizations performance. Within, technical and social systems there are a collection of complex components that solve problems within that system. Knowledge management uses the combination and utilization of technology at every phase that is available within the organization. Social and technical framework for management of knowledge is an appropriate method than an organization can use to handle problems due to information overload. In using both a social and technical approach within an organization allows an individual to gain the most insight within their performance. The relationship between people and technology does not matter in the process of solving different performance problems within an organization. The technical system is a tool used to identify problems within the organization that affect its performance. It supports the investment of knowledge management throughout the organization and its people. In doing so, this move enhances the technology and people within the organization to be used as interface models, and IT blueprints to ensure technology is implemented. (Liu & Errey, 2006) Conducting of business is at its present day of age within information technology. Within, the work environments...
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...Information overload is a situation that has concerned many organizations. However, through the use of technology and ever-changing systems, organizations are developing new ways of controlling this problem. What is information overload? This is what some say in respect to information and what is happening to organizations in today’s fast paced hi- tech world; we are being overloaded with technological advances and information to the point where we will not be able to handle all this information and eventually burst. In actuality it is very improbable such an event will occur, with the advances that have allowed for such a great quantity in the flow of networked information has also allowed for that information to be managed successfully. Also organizations understanding of how to manage knowledge as well as holding an understanding to the relationship between information, data, knowledge, and wisdom are crucial to their success in not being inundated by mass amounts of information. This is no new problem to the human populous either, mankind has been dealing with this since our beginning and will continue for our existence; this is what allows us to succeed and be successful as a species in whole. At the beginning of Man’s very existence information has continually been compounding, and man has successfully been collecting and improving upon past lessons. Along with continually building on knowledge man had to come to terms with a way to store the knowledge and pass it...
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...Monthly Status Meeting | -Will be face-to-face or conference call-Report the status to upper management-Well occur monthly | Monthly Reports Meeting | -Channel will be thru email, fax, or memos-Will go over reports such as; cost, issues, and progress | 2. Identify the potential barriers to effective communication and strategies for overcoming the barriers. Potential Communication Barriers | Strategies to Overcoming Barriers | Information Overload | -Listed above are a lot of meetings and employees will get overwhelmed with information that is important? - A solution for this is to have an employee take notes for each department and send them in an email for referencing. | Communication Apprehension | -Some employees may not be comfortable in a face-to-face or with written information. -A solution for this barrier would be to have a mixture of face-to-face, conference calls, and emails. This will allow for everyone to communicate their thoughts and ideas. | Filtering Information | -There will be employees that will filter information to fit the needs of the organization or team.-This will be minimized by reviewing data monthly and holding everyone accountable for their work.-Also keeping...
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...the only way for information to effectively spread throughout the business so that everybody can be informed to the degree that they required to properly achieve their goals. | | | | | | | | | Issues from the User Forum: | | | | | Poor Communication | | | | | I have been working in an office environment for a month now. I cannot seem to fit in with the other employees. I don't understand what the problem is. I have tried to be friendly, but everyone just rejects me and when people... < more > | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Suggest a solution for this issue | | | | | Post a question to other users | | | | | | | | | | | | | | There are many opportunities for poor communication in a workplace, and awareness of these hindrances is the first step toward discovering and solving them within your own business. Strangely enough, it seems that it is always the employers who are the last to find out that there does indeed exist poor communication within their own companies. This, ironically, is a direct result of the poor communication! It only makes sense that when information isn’t properly flowing down within a business, it isn’t flowing up very well either. Among the most trying elements of poor communication in today’s workplace is a lack of information for the proper accomplishment...
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...Hot Chile Surfwear has its head office in Cancun and retail offices are spread at 23 locations within Mexico at present. Knowledge Management System would require as a first step to invest in data acquisition mechanism. Currently the practice is that each store sends some data either in spreadsheets or hard papers to be collated at the head office. In order that this data becomes important information can be translated into knowledge, it is essential that some vital statistics and information be captured periodically. Depending upon the source of the information, we would be classifying this into two categories – internal and external. Internal Source: This would refer to all the information which exists within the stores and the head office and can be pulled out without any dependence on an external agency (Christopher, J. 1994). Some of the examples are - Sales figures at each store Customer foot fall at each store Merchandise wise sales Enquiries for product line unavailable Customer Segmentation at each store – by age, gender, personality types Salesperson wise sales or units sold Productivity rate i.e. Number of people who bought something vs. total foot fall Advertising Campaigns/ POS used at each store Sales increase post advertising , in-store marketing External Source: In addition to the above, it would be essential that the company also gathers data from outside agencies, from secondary sources like research firms, market, Television,...
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...DE1Y 35 Business Information Management February 2006 © SQA Business Information Management DE1Y 35 Acknowledgements Grateful thanks are expressed to COLEG for permission to use extracts throughout the material from the former Business Information Management pack (HN Unit Number A6GF 04), developed by Falkirk College. This permission has been received in writing and is given for inclusion in this publication and for use by COLEG member colleges. © Scottish Qualifications Authority – Material developed by Cardonald College. This publication is licensed by SQA to COLEG for use by Scotland’s colleges as commissioned materials under the terms and conditions of COLEG’s Intellectual Property Rights document, September 2004. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior written consent of COLEG and SQA. © SQA Version 1 2 Developed by COLEG Business Information Management DE1Y 35 Contents Acknowledgements Contents Introduction to the unit What this unit is about Outcomes Unit structure How to use these learning materials Symbols used in this unit Other resources required Assessment information How you will be assessed When and where you will be assessed What you have to achieve Opportunities for reassessment Section 1: The role of information in business Introduction to this section Assessment information for this section What is information? The nature of information Types of information Internal uses of information External use Uses...
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...Background Information overload, the inability to absorb and process all the information we're exposed to, can be deadly. Ok, maybe not in the literal sense, however the idea of becoming at the least, ill, because of an over-abundance of information is not implausible. Americans are being overwhelmed with information. Each new day introduces an unrelenting flow of data. Consider the volume of data produced from the start of civilization to the year of 2003. According to research Google CEO Eric Schmidt, the world is now producing that equivalent volume of data every two days (Siegler, 2010). In addition, our current society is overcome with a constant surge in technology. Major technological advances has made the ability to access and disseminate this information much easier. Today there is use of the internet, computers, cell phones, tablets, and Bluetooth devices. In addition, there is access to other informational resources such as newspapers, T.V., and radio. This technological growth have led to many important business and societal innovations such as the ability to spot business trends, prevent or treat diseases, fight crime, and much more. However, at some point this can become a destructive trend. Emerging research shows that while there are advantages to having so much information readily available, there is a struggle to process this information as fast as it arrives. While, information Overload is an increasing problem both in the workplace, and in life...
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...Introduction Information systems are used to increase the efficiency of day to day operations for companies. They allow for major expansions in operations because of this more efficient means to store and organize data. The popularity has information systems has increased since the 1950’s. Information systems allow for the processing and analyzing massive amounts of data with the ability to create accurate and timely reports. Information systems have led to the development of more department specific systems such as accounting information systems (AIS), human resource system (HRM), and manufacturing planning resource systems (MRP). The development of these systems has given companies a competitive advantage. The accounting process has been shaped and affected in a positive direction. AIS have been integrated with programs to track and process inventory control system (Ashhari, Kharuddin, Nassir, 2010). Ackoff’s Management Misinformation Systems Russell L. Ackoff created a diagnosis of the five misconceptions about management’s information systems. The first assumption was that there was a need for more information but on the contrary they really had an overabundance of information. More information than they could possibly retain which may lead to information overload. And in this assumption Ackoff describes that common rationality was incorrect and the majority of information managers were given just was not relevant. Ackoff believed that they needed an increase of relevant...
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...Information Flow in an Organization , information is created for meaning, decision making and sharing of knowledge. Just like a river flowing information flows from one place to another, into every house, school or organization. The flow begins with the creation of the data at a terminal; this is the beginning of the information flow. From there the information flows down the pipeline through the network which is like a pipeline. Within this network of pipes you have the switching and routing of the information flow, like the valves used to push water from one location to another. From there the information flows to storage facilities like large storage facilities, these facilities in a data network are the servers, mainframes are used in conjunction with software to store, collate, and share the data just waiting to be accessed and shared. Once a person turns on the faucet or access the information the flow starts again, from the storage facility to another set of switches/routers or valves. This information is accessed like getting a drink of water. Information flow within an organization is an ever evolving process; it is circular in nature according to its activities. Chesapeake Energy’s information flow starts with the design of the information network or pipeline, network circuits include cell modems, T1 and fiber circuits. From here the routers and switches are put in place to send the information to the right storage facility or server. Software is created to determine...
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...Home Page »Business and Management Communications Self-Assessment In: Business and Management Communications Self-Assessment Communication style can be summed up as, the way one is perceived by others vs. how one perceives themselves and the way one interacts with others. The text “Interpersonal skills in Organizations” talks about how behaviour, personality and attitude are key factors in determining communication style. Before reading chapter 1 of the above text, I would have said that my communication skills could be heavily worked on. I am generally very shy and nervous when it comes to talking to people I don’t know and am worried about what others will think about my own thoughts and ideas. Although I am very open to others ideas and am able to see how one idea would work the same as another would, I tend to be afraid of how one might take my own interpretation. After reading the text and doing exercise 1-A and 1-B I realised that my self- evaluation of myself was not far off at all. Scoring moderately in “emotional stability” and “extroversion” shows that, although I am rather shy I am also able to work with others, even if I prefer to do solo work and am well rounded when it comes to my opinions and the options of others. My high ratings in “open to experience” and “agreeableness,” back up my theory that I am much more reserved, although I like to learn new things and look at situations from many perspectives. Having a more low or “flexible” score in “conscientiousness”...
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