Managing Information in Organizations: Inaugural Post

In this inaugural blog post I am reminded of a comment that I made in my inaugural lecture some years ago: just because you can, does not mean that you should’The comment referred to the use of social media and meant that just because we can communicate information using social media does not necessarily mean that we should do so.  This was in response to individuals tweeting the minutiae of their daily lives, such as what they had eaten for lunch.

 

I have therefore given considerable thought as to whether by creating a blog I am merely adding to the mountain of information that threatens to overload us each day.  This is particularly a concern as information overload is one of the information management problems discussed in my book, Managing Information in Organizations:  A Practical Guide to Implementing an Information Management Strategy.

 

The dominance of technology in society can often overshadow the information in the information technology.  The sleek elegant lines of the latest mobile phone, tablet or netbook computer captivate us in the thrall of technology.  As we fall under the spell cast on us by the designers of information technology our attention is drawn to the simplicity of touchscreen interfaces, instant messaging, video conferencing, and constant social connectivity.

 

This blog therefore aims to readdress the balance by offering a weekly reflection that focuses on information and reminds us of the powerful resource to which technology provides a gateway.  Despite, or perhaps because of, the advances in information technology organizations and individuals struggle to manage and use information effectively.  I will discuss topical examples to illustrate the challenges of managing information, identify the underlying principles that need to be addressed, and offer practical tips on how we can all improve information management.

 

An individual’s responsibility for information is a key principle that will reappear throughout the blog, and I acknowledge my responsibility in that ‘just because I can include some information in a blog post, does not mean that I should’.  Comments on all blog posts are welcome, though please remember ‘just because you can tell me what you ate for lunch, does not mean that you should tell me’.

 

Further Reading: information overload is discussed in Chapter 7

 

Please use the following to reference this blog post in your own work:

Cox, S. A., (2014), ‘Inaugural Post’, 11 April 2014, http://www.managinginformation.org/inaugural-post/, [Date accessed: dd:mm:yy]

© 2014 Sharon A Cox