Information Use Paper
Anthony Michelli
IT/205
May 12, 2014
Michael Peterson

Information Use Paper Information runs in a circular pattern. Much like how water cycles through a water plant, into a plumbing system, which can then go into different buildings and those buildings pass the water down back into the plumbing system. Organizations use information in a similar fashion where a customer will give information of a purchase, that purchase information is then stored into a database. From the database, the credit card information or other needed information when regarding purchases goes to the appropriate destinations such as banks, warehouses, distribution centers, etc. From those destinations, the information is passed back into a database. These patterns are referred to as information flows. The information flows allow an organization to carry out their services or distribute products. The more effective an information flow, the more effective an organization operates, flourishes, and expands and a business or non profit organization. Due to what information can do for an organization, information is kept closely guarded and is treated as a valuable piece of any organization and is considered a material resource. The information flow patterns are heavily secured as one organization would not want their information, nor their consumer’s sensitive information, to be compromised by an outside entity. Information, when treated as a material resource, helps managers in decision making. The raw materials, or the information, go through information processing and analysis via the databases, and that in turn is used to help make decisions. These informational activities are necessary for each organization though they are non-added-value. Operative work coordination, well-timed presentation of full ordered information to the decision makers depend on effective execution of these activities. Thus the effectiveness of overall organization activities depends on these processes.
Some organizations have their information flow in a more linear fashion. The information source can come from a supervisor or manager and is passed down further along the subordinate ladder of command. There is a local library nearby my home that operates in a similar manner. The information will come from the head librarian and is then passed down to his heads of sections or units. The unit or section heads will would then in turn pass these instructions down to their respective subordinates at the receiving end. The initial responses to the information are further supplied back up to the unit heads who would in turn pass these answers upwards to the head librarian. The answers that are received by the head librarian are what would guide him in decision making, budget preparation, annual reports and also management briefing in course of the organizational managements meetings.
In the local library, the free flow of information between the head librarian and his subordinates is essential for the library to operate successfully. The flow of material sources in the library affords the staff sufficient opportunity to deliver their duties effectively. In fact, the librarian is the mediator between man and information resources and if one discusses information flow without mentioning the librarian the discussion can never be complete. Every piece of information must come from a source, and in the library that source in the head librarian. The librarian works relentlessly to make sure that information flows and that the users are satisfied.
However, due to the nature of a linear model of the information flow, it is easy to have the information flow be disrupted. If the head librarian were to pass down information to a unit or section head, and that head either incorrectly relayed the information further down the ladder or decided not to pass the information down at all, then the information flow essentially becomes broken. The information could also contain sensitive data about book orders or re-stocking orders. A unit head or a lower subordinate could choose to relay that information outside of the information flow and that data could be used by other organizations. To prevent unauthorized use of the information, preventive measures are taken. The head Liberian himself monitors the information he sends down to the unit or section heads. He is able to tell when information stops being passed down or if the information attempts to leave the information flow.