| In low tech local environment where an overwhelming | | | | have to review feedback from clients and also see |
| majority is still struggling to access and find required | | | | what competitors are doing by visiting their web sites, |
| information, there are some high end-users who are | | | | reading online press releases and newsletters. |
| already complaining of information overload. | | | | The information that I get is one of the most important |
| Busy executives, decision makers and other people | | | | tools in my sales game but I am afraid that I miss so |
| taking advantage of computing in work and meaningful | | | | much," he adds. |
| pursuits need all the quality information they can get. | | | | David, an astute businessman running a |
| They turn to the web because it has amassed huge | | | | money-changing concern in Lahore, has two computer |
| amounts of information in almost all areas of human | | | | screens on his work desk (also a number of |
| activities. But what is information in the first place? | | | | telephones and mobile phone sets). Sometimes his |
| Technically speaking, "information is stimuli that have | | | | assistants bring yet other mobile for him to answer |
| meaning in some context for its receiver. When | | | | when he is trying to focus on the rapidly rising and |
| information is entered into and stored in a computer, it | | | | falling currency rates in the world money market. He |
| is generally referred to as data - information translated | | | | also has to answer chat signals from fellow money |
| into a form that is more convenient to move or | | | | changers and continuously watch what is coming in his |
| process. When information is packaged or used for | | | | inbox, sometimes firing off instant replies. He says, |
| understanding or doing something, it is known as | | | | "Given the nature of my business and rapid fluctuation |
| knowledge - to an enterprise or an individual, the | | | | in currency rates I have to keep a constant watch on |
| possession of information or the ability to quickly locate | | | | the global money market. This is what I do last thing |
| it." For the purpose here, I think the term 'information' is | | | | before going to bed and first when I get up in the |
| the correct description of some of what is available on | | | | morning before coming to the office. |
| the web, rather than knowledge or wisdom. | | | | In addition, I also have to follow important events in the |
| Advances in web technologies and their growing | | | | world that can cast tangible effects on economies of |
| usage have made the production, distribution, and | | | | the world. But it is difficult to keep track of it all. I want |
| sharing of information so much easier than what it | | | | sometime to myself but it is really not possible in this |
| was only a decade ago. It has reduced the time span | | | | line of business." Before employing IT, the first piece of |
| of business practices and processes, which would | | | | paper Senta Kurt used to face each morning after |
| otherwise have taken very long time to be | | | | coming in his office was a previous day inventory |
| implemented on ground. But information comes with an | | | | report from three different tent and canvas products |
| additional excess of irrelevant junk, unclear and | | | | manufacturing and exporting units he is managing in |
| inaccurate data, even conflicting, making it becomes | | | | Kot Lakhpat. |
| difficult to sift what is important from what is not. This | | | | "Before we employed IT, night staff used to produce |
| "excess information beyond what is desired or needed | | | | required inventory report. Now my inventory is on |
| by any user requiring non productive processing" is | | | | networked computers and is up-to-date all the time. I |
| called information overload. The number of work hours | | | | can see it any time. Basing on this I can shift resources |
| available and the inherent human capacity to absorb | | | | from one unit to another and control production. But |
| information have remained almost same over years | | | | when it comes to information required for running my |
| whereas the need to access, understand and digest | | | | business in global market, it sometime is daunting to find |
| information had gone up many times. | | | | what I am looking for and to weed through the junk." |
| Local market scouting reveals that most economic | | | | There must be an equilibrium point somewhere. Users |
| concerns have yet not fully appreciated possibilities | | | | have to define precisely what they need and in how |
| offered by IT. Notable exceptions apart, computer | | | | much detail. There are technological fixes like using |
| technologies have not been integrated within corporate | | | | filters, email managers, favourites and the like to |
| systems as of yet. | | | | prioritize the coming information. Some other intriguing |
| For many a CEO, president and chairman of | | | | technologies to how people mine the Internet for |
| companies the connected computers set on their | | | | information are in the pipe. But technical solutions alone |
| tables are just another part of office equipment only to | | | | may not be enough. "They can sometime aggravate |
| be used by others. But for inspiring examples that | | | | the overload problem, because instead of how much |
| have taken the initiative and employed the technology, | | | | one needs, they make it possible to get more. But |
| information is moving from being a marginal, specialist | | | | given enough time and practice, one gets wise in |
| responsibility to being a central part of every business | | | | distinguishing what is important in any particular field," |
| operation. Demand for executives, managers and | | | | thinks Umar Manzoor. |
| employees, in these futuristic organisations, to become | | | | In response to a query, Tatiana Andronache, Canadian |
| more aware of and prepared for handling the | | | | Information Systems Professional emailed, "Information |
| opportunities being offered by growing information has | | | | Overload is a fascinating phenomenon every web |
| increased. | | | | user experience at least some of the times. I have no |
| In this milieu, high end users are getting overwhelmed | | | | idea what humankind is going to do with all the |
| by the magnitude of information from multiple sources. | | | | information: writings, analysis, images, sound tracks, |
| What is more, sometime the required information is not | | | | movies, websites, you name it. People do not seem to |
| at the surface. It is often difficult to understand if a | | | | be healthier, richer or happier because they have them. |
| web article is just a sales-pitch, self-serving opinion, a | | | | At a personal level, I deal through prioritizing, |
| research study skewed by producers and sponsors | | | | time-boxing and, when possible, multi-tasking. |
| with something to gain or is it factual. There is a lot of | | | | What gets done, gets done, what not - oh, well! I avoid |
| crap in other forms. Even search engines are selling | | | | time suckers such as surfing the internet (I go to sites |
| result placements. | | | | where I have business and finish quickly), no forums, |
| Having quality information in time is good and | | | | chats, very little TV. Radio is a favourite because does |
| productive. With more and more information coming | | | | not tie me up." The first step to combat possible |
| from so many different sources, users must be able to | | | | information overload is to identify the needs and take |
| determine the quality of information before putting it to | | | | control. There is no universal formula fitting for users of |
| use. But determining quality can be tough. Many users | | | | different areas of interest therefore everyone may |
| are not particularly good at managing and filtering | | | | make own road map and shortcuts. "Knowing what is |
| information that comes their way. Technologies so far | | | | needed and cutting out unnecessary clutter outside the |
| can handle quantity but are still not mature enough to | | | | desired scope saves a lot of time," says Dr. Norbert. |
| recognize quality of information. Which is why | | | | Then users should decide what is manageable while |
| information overload gets unhelpful for those who are | | | | taking into account time availability, ability to absorb and |
| facing it? The avalanche of information, as per | | | | retain information. This involves establishing limits to the |
| experts, in extreme cases may lead to unwanted | | | | information hunting process and allows doing first thing |
| results in the form of stress, frustration or physical | | | | first. The users should also realize when to stop |
| illness. | | | | gathering information and move on to making use of it. |
| "The situation is worst where organizations are in | | | | And acknowledge that none can get to know |
| transition - changing from the old style of handling | | | | everything. |
| information to IT or where IT dependent new | | | | Information has made a huge difference in the world |
| generation of executives is taking over family business | | | | of business in particular, and chances are that it will |
| enterprises," says Dr. Norbert, an architect who uses | | | | continue to. Those who are using it purposefully can |
| the internet to do businesses in field of call centres. "I | | | | sure make their way with it and combat the |
| have to keep up to date on the technology sector. I | | | | information overload. |