...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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...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...
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...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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...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 for knowledge...
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...perspective can be more productive in helping organizations manage information overload than either technical solutions or organizational solutions alone. The current workplace environment presents a constant reevaluation for businesses and organizations. Downsizing has become status quo for these same businesses, organizations and US military alike. At the same time they are expected to remain competitive, relevant and effective. The term,” doing more with less comes to mind.” The one common expectancy with these businesses and organizations is that workloads will increase instead of decrease. These groups need to “generate value from their intellectual and knowledge based assets. Generating value from such assets involves codifying what employees, partners and customers know and sharing that information among employees, departments and even with other companies in an effort to devise best practices.” (Levinson) The developing relationships between socio and technical elements can lead productivity and wellbeing of all involved. On a daily basis the information age continues to move forward. There is a constant battle within businesses and organizations in this information age to control “information overload.” The individuals entrusted to guide their workers to the end product are subject to failure if information overload is not controlled. Sociotechnical theory looks to streamline the organizational world, redefine how an organization is structured and how it operates in...
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...occur before an audience member perceives the present of an incoming message? 4. Why should communications take an audience-centered approach to communication? 5. How is communication affected by information overload? 6. How can you make sure your feedback is constructive? 7. Why is ethical communication important? 1. Why do you think good communication in an organization improves employee attitudes and performance? Explain briefly. 2. Is it possible foe companies to be too dependent on communication technology? Explain briefly. 3. How can a lack of shared experience between sender and receiver result in communication failures? 4. As a manager, how can you impress on your employees the importance of strong business ethics when dealing with colleagues, customers, and general public? 5. Ethical Choices because of your excellent communication skills, your boss always asks you to write his reports for him. When you overhear the CEO complimenting him on his logical organization and clear writing style, he responds as if he’d written all those reports himself. What kind of ethical choice does this response represent? What kind of ethical choice does this response represent? What can you do in this situation? Briefly explain your solution and your reasoning? 8. In what directions can information travel within an organization’s formal hierarchy? 9. What is the grapevine, and why should managers be aware of it? 10. What steps have to occur...
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...The Information Overload This paper discusses changes that corporations may undertake to mitigate information overload. What I intend to show here is that it would be prudent of a corporation to make changes to social systems in order to return to a more productive state of organization. Certainly technical systems play an important role in controlling what information is necessary to assist in the scope of an individual’s specific work goal for the corporation. As the old adage goes, “garbage in, garbage out” and technical influences, such as fire walls, spam filters, permission and security settings can minimize or eliminate all together both input and output garbage as it were. I have served over 20 years in the Army, and continue to work for the DoD for example, the internet used for everyday business is very restrictive, you are not likely to get overloaded with useless information on this media, there are some exceptions that may allow you to move beyond the necessary parameters for safe computing, however, the network monitoring systems in place would have human intervention to your location within the hour. While imposing technical influences on computer systems through a well established IT program in a corporation is a must do task for any organization, social systems must be in place and supportive of the technical systems in order to successfully mitigate information overload. What I am saying here is that employees must have a corporation success oriented attitude...
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...Case Before the EHEC and HUS outbreaks, numerous organizations regarding food safety as well as healthcare were active at local, federal and international level. According to the German prevention of Infection Act, these organizations were mostly collaborating on a weekly basis and the stream of information was going upward and was skimmed at each level to avoid the organizations at the top to be overloaded. The main problem faced when the outbreak occurred was the lack of ability of these organizations to collaborate in an efficient way and to enable a quick information flow. A single authority was therefore needed to coordinate and to lead activities related to healthcare and food control, fostering thereby a common vision and sense of urgency, a better communication, as well as a common plan to react quickly. This need was fulfilled by the EHEC Task Force in June 2011, in which federal agencies [the Robert Koch Institut (RKI), the Federal Office of Consumer protection and Food Safety (BVL) and the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR)], which already had some relations with international organizations, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), worked in close collaboration with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to monitor and coordinate the actions. Challenges The speed to which the outbreak spread itself and the unknown strain of the disease set a certain number of challenges for the authorities in charge : ➢ Rapid exchange of information (as...
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...McGraw-Hill Higher Education and Blackboard Strategic Plan Partnership Section 1 – Strategy TCO F – Given an organizational and industry context, identify and suggest a deployment strategy that will facilitate the success of a technologically-driven organization. The McGraw-Hill Companies deployment strategy is providing individuals vital knowledge to enable them to reach their full potential throughout their lives. Also McGraw-Hill Companies is driving the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education and J.D. Power and Associates. McGraw-Hill make straight with three enduring worldwide needs: • The Need for Capital • The Need for Knowledge • The Need for Transparency Knowledge: McGraw-Hill Education, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is a leading trendsetter in the growth of teaching and learning solutions for the 21st century. Through a broad range of traditional and digital education content and tools, McGraw-Hill Education allow and prepares professionals and students of all ages to connect, learn and succeed in the global economy. Capital: McGraw-Hill Financial, a part of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE:MHP), is a leading source of research and analytical tools for investment advisors, wealth managers and institutional investors. Transparency: J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including...
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...The pitfalls listed for the goals included: qualitative overload, role ambiguity and conflict, violations for unity of command, fragmentation, questionable acceptance of highly centralized command, concerns about pay grade, concerns about credentialing, and lack of confidence. (Layman, 2011). Ironically, as mentioned before, the pitfalls include some of the original problems. The outcomes suggested for the goals, however, included decreased stress, improved morale, and improved quality of work. These outcomes were the overriding theme of the case study, and the positive outcome appears to indicate success for the...
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...the role that communication plays is one that is imperative to an organisations success and the success of the individuals of that organisation. Poor communication is most often the source of interpersonal conflict (Cocks 2012), which is not a surprise as almost 70 percent of an individual’s day consists of some form of communication (Robbins, et al. 2011). Communication is the process of information being passed from one individual to another that follows a procedure of informational transfer and understanding. There are some significant barriers that impact the way in which communication is interpreted. This essay examines the role of communication in organisations, the significant barriers to effective communication and the possible solutions for those problems. Communication is the process of transferring and understanding information. Communication must include the transfer of information and understanding of the meaning in order to be successful. Before communication can take place, there must be a purpose. The communication process refers to the way in which we send and receive information. The process consists of a sender initiating the message by encoding their own thoughts (sent through a channel), with the message received and decoded by the receiver. If any part of this process is neglected or misunderstood, there is minimal chance of the message being interpreted correctly. If perfect communication were to exist, it would occur when an idea was transferred, so the...
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...However, if you make poor decisions your organization can tumble. Regardless of the size of business you are in whether a large corporation, a small company, or even a home based business effective communication skills are essential for success especially when a decision has to be made. Decision making in management is an important skill and making the right decisions is essential. Every manager should be looking to improve their decision making skills and communication skills. The process of business decision making is of the utmost importance for effective management. Decision making process in management must be informed by expert knowledge and experience in all departments. “The decision-making role in organizations is crucial. If things are going smoothly, there is not much for management to do, but if things go wrong or new opportunities arise, somebody has to decide on hiring and firing workers, investing in new machines or scrapping old ones, marketing new products and dropping old ones, and how to raise the necessary finance.” (Fong, Kwok, 2005) The role of management is to take these decisions, communicate with all the departments in the organization that are involved, and make the right decision. The people who do the managing, this may involve a members of the organizations at different ranks, with subordinates, branch, or assistant managers exercising limited caution, and the managing director as the overall boss of an organization, laying down general outline of policy...
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...Resource Leveling Guide |INTRODUCTION: Resource Leveling Using Microsoft Project | |The Guideline Content Starts on the Following Page | |What This Is | |This guideline discusses Resource Leveling in general, and how to use the Microsoft Project scheduling tool to level the resources working on | |a project. The term “leveling” refers to smoothing out the assignment of individual resources or groups of resources over time and ensure that| |peak workloads do not exceed available resources capacity within any given period. Resource leveling is typically done with the aid of a | |scheduling tool such as MS Project. However, some leveling actions can be taken without a tool, or after the scheduling software has done as | |much as it can automatically; tips on those actions are included in this guideline as well. | |Our thanks to Management Strategies Inc. for contributing Section 2, detailed guidelines for how to use MS Project’s resource leveling | |features. | |Why It’s Useful...
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...healthcare services. Data visualization tools will also impact how patient information is shared, diagnoses rendered and treatments designed based on model integrated visual data models. Information technology is at the center of technological change and the healthcare services will be a major part of that change in an enduring way. DATA VISUALIZATION AND HEALTHCARE Introduction Data visualization is an information technology megatrend that can quite effectively inform research and strategy within the health industry. It is a disruptive technology that visually presents data in order to inspire an intuitive and deeper comprehension of complex subject matter, and relevant patterns and trends (Producer, 2013b). This enables health organizations to target research efforts and improve outcomes in services and treatment. The health industry is benefitting from the use of data visualization tools because it synthesizes vast amounts of data automatically expunging useless data. This streamlined data allows for more targeted approaches, and a deeper understanding of what the relevant inquiry results reveal through interactive visual representations that more comprehensively inform researchers and decision makers. Visual data provides metrics that assist stakeholders with meaningful disease research,...
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...L. ID number: i491675 Study: Economics Course code: Cap3023 Capstone: Organization Writing Assignment: Topic 4 Organization Universiteit Maastricht School of Business and Economics Maastricht, 28 July 2011 Van ’t Klooster, M.L. ID number: i491675 Study: Economics Course code: Cap3023 Capstone: Organization Writing Assignment: Topic 4 Organization Table of contents: 1. Introduction....................................................................................................................2 2. Combining work and family...........................................................................................3 3. The negative effects of having multiple roles.................................................................3 4. The positive effects of having multiple roles..................................................................5 5. Gender differences in having multiple roles...................................................................6 6. Taking personality into account......................................................................................7 7. Organizations and their role............................................................................................8 8. Boundary management...................................................................................................9 9. The SOC model as a solution.............................................................................
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