Information Literacy’s Influence on Scholarship, Practice, and Leadership in the Army
Shasheshe Goolsby
University of Phoenix
Dr. Barb
Information Literacy’s Influence on Scholarship, Practice, and Leadership in the Army The quality of information accessed and used for analyses and decisions has a significant influence on the quality of the resulting consequences of such decisions. In this regard, it is of critical importance to ensure that information used is of the highest quality possible, and as appropriate as possible to the situation or context of the analysis/decision-making process. However, in this information age, one of the main issues is the availability of different kinds of information that could make it difficult to look for the most suitable and reliable information possible to support such quality objective. In order to address this situation, it is necessary for one to have information literacy. It is argued that information literacy has a positive contribution on the quality of the results of scholarship, practice and leadership in the Army. One of the important issues nowadays is the availability of large amounts of information. This condition can be disadvantageous and could pose issues, especially when a significant portion of such information is not reliable and cannot be considered as scholarly (Russell, 2009). As such, the inability of Army personnel to properly seek and use appropriate scholarly and reliable information could lead to erroneous analyses and inappropriate or even dangerous decisions. This is where information literacy comes in. Because of information literacy, one can ensure that there is appropriate consideration for the various characteristics of the information and their sources used for research, analyses and decision-making. By definition, information literacy refers to the ability of a person to properly determine the information need, and apply appropriate measures, methods or techniques to seek the most suitable and reliable pieces of information to address the current situation, problem or issue. With information literacy, one could become highly effective in identifying and using such information, thereby contributing to the enhancement of scholarship and practice. For instance, the higher quality of information used for scholarly purposes would lead to higher quality of the outputs of one's efforts in scholarship and practice. In addition, because of information literacy, one could also ensure that the information used as basis for decision-making in leadership within the Army. In a way, the use of scholarly information increases the accuracy and effectiveness of the leadership decisions made (Russell, 2009). Information literacy is important in ensuring an adequate level of competence in dealing with international or multicultural situations. This is especially important nowadays that organizations and institutions are becoming increasingly internationalized (Agnew, 2013). For instance, the typical situation of organizations and institutions has already become more culturally diverse. Furthermore, as the globalization trend goes on, the population also becomes increasingly culturally diverse. This situation translates to a more diverse membership in the Army. The Army leader must be able to effectively address this situation, with proper consideration for differences in cultural preferences, backgrounds and perspectives. Through information literacy, the Army leader becomes capable of gaining deeper insights and understanding of these differences. In this regard, information literacy also helps guide in ensuring that the results of the strategic planning process are as adequate and effective as possible in facilitating the achievement of goals in such an internationalized context (Agnew, 2013). In a fact, information literacy facilitates more effective and successful Army leadership. In addition, because of information literacy, it is possible to determine the most suitable types of information specific to one’s discipline or field (Russell, 2009). It is important to note that one’s advancement in the Army and one's effectiveness in fulfilling his specific roles or functions within the Army organization should be partly based on his/her background and training. For example, an officer trained in intelligence gathering must be able to properly apply theories and concepts within his field. However, to maximize his effectiveness in such a role or function, it must also be able to access and use specific information suitable to his role or function. Through information literacy, the Army leader becomes more effective in using information specific to his background or training, thereby supporting a higher level of effectiveness in fulfilling his role/function within the Army organization. The knowledge and skills achievable through information literacy is considerably flexible and supports a dynamic capacity that one could use to gain even more beneficial knowledge and skills. In essence, information literacy is capable of supporting lifelong education (Turusheva, 2009). For instance, one could use information literacy for the main purpose of developing the knowledge and skills necessary to serve as foundation for more advanced knowledge and skills. It is understandable that, for example, for an officer to advance in the ranks of the Army, it is necessary for him to process adequate knowledge and skills that enables him to satisfy the requirements of his roles and responsibilities. Furthermore, it is understandable that, as one advances in the organization of the Army, it is also necessary for him to continue enhancing his knowledge and skills. Such enhancement of knowledge and skills is only possible if the existing knowledge and skills are adequate and reliable. The adequacy and reliability of knowledge and skills is attainable through proper information literacy (Turusheva, 2009). In effect, information literacy increases the capacity of a person to effectively fulfill his roles and responsibilities, and increase his effectiveness in fulfilling more advanced roles and responsibilities in leadership, thereby facilitating promotion within the ranks of the Army. Information literacy also increases the positive contributions that one can make in sharing and developing knowledge, especially when it comes to communicating adequate, reliable and scholarly information to others (Turusheva, 2009). The success of scholarship, practice and leadership in the Army is partly based on one's effectiveness in contributing to the knowledge development and knowledge sharing from which others could also benefit. However, the success of such knowledge development and sharing requires keenness in identifying and using reliable information specific to the situation at hand. Information literacy addresses this need. For instance, information literacy addresses the issue of information blindness, which basically refers to the tendency of individuals to enter into a huge source of different kinds of information only to become confused and even misled (Badke, 2009). An information literate leader is capable of determining issues and potential misleading or confusing information, and preventing the sharing or dissemination of such information. As such, information literacy increases one’s ability to avoid sharing information that could need to the detriment of knowledge and skills development. As such, the Army leader who properly uses information literacy becomes more effective in optimizing the knowledge and skills development within the Army organization. Information literacy significantly affects scholarship, practice and leadership in the Army. The vast amounts of reliable information mixed with vast amounts of unreliable information easily accessible today make it of critical importance for one to have information literacy. With proper information literacy, the overall outcomes of scholarship and practice become more reliable and useful in contributing to the improvements of the Army organization. In addition, with proper information literacy, the Army leader becomes more effective and successful in providing reliable guidelines, making appropriate decisions, and avoiding information that could confuse or mislead personnel in the Army. Therefore, information literacy increases the overall benefits and positive contributions of the results from scholarship, practice and leadership efforts in the Army.
References
Agnew, M. (2013). Strategic planning: An examination of the role of disciplines in sustaining internationalization of the University. Journal of Studies in International Education, 17, 183-202.
Badke, W. (2009). How we failed the net generation. Online, (July/August), 47-49.
Russell, P. (2009). Why universities need information literacy now more than ever. Feliciter, 55(3), 92-94.
Turusheva, L. (2009). Students’ information competence and its importance in lifelong education. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 12, 126-132.