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Strategies for Managing Information in the 21st Century
"There are two basic rules of life: Change is inevitable, and everybody resists change." (Craine 2000) Changing professions or changes within a profession often runs a close second to losing a loved one. Deathlike feelings of change are now only a mouse click away. Librarians and Information professionals know that because of new technology, change manifests itself in the sheer volume of information which accumulates within organizations and among its professional ranks. Both struggle to manage the myriad of documents they produce and find in order to turn them into useful knowledge. Managing that change requires addressing the needs of the organization and its professionals as well as caring for the psychological impact change has on people within the organization. Understanding the newer fields of RIM and PKM plus the psychology of change is crucial for today's information professionals
Resource Information Management or RIM addresses the need for information management at an organizational level. In 2007 the digital information universe was 281 exabytes (1exabyte = 1 billion gigabytes), and in 2011 it will be 10 times that figure. (Weller - Collison 2008) Coupled with compliance issues, legal, international and societal expectations managing information growth is critical. Proper information handling can make a difference between winning and losing court cases, being fined for non compliance and keeping abreast of international competition. RIM monitors events in the business environment and creates advantageous information policies within the organization.
Organizations are now turning to a field known as Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) to address the information needs of its professionals. It is all about organizing and capturing the personal information and knowledge used by professionals who make organizational level decisions. Phil Schnyder sees the process as two steps. "Knowledge workers need to find ways to gather information wherever it may come from, but they also need to find ways to get back to it and use that information." (Miller 2005) His company ask Sam has created software that allows users to systematically gather information and organize it for personal use. This program is very similar to Vannevar Bush's visionary idea of a machine called a Memex (1945) which allowed a person to cross link ideas and use them when needed.
RIM and PKM allow people and organizations to survive and hopefully thrive in a harsh changing environment. Unfortunately, implementing these ideas can be hard on people in the organization. Gearing up for change includes gearing up the workforce. There are four processes that people in an organization typically go through before accepting change. Wise management is able to shepherd its employees through the "Comfort Zone," "The 'No' Zone", "The Chasm" and "The 'Go' Zone". (Craine 2000) RIM, PKM and solid understanding of the psychology of human nature are just some of the tools we will use as we step past the threshold of the 21st Century.
References
Weller-Collison, A., Kahn, R., & Wescott II, W. (2008, September). Skills for Building Success in the Electronic Business Environment. Information Management Journal, 42(5), 50-58. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text database.
Miller, R. (2005, November). The Evolution of Knowledge Management. (cover story). EContent, 28(11), 38-41. Retrieved August 26, 2009, from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text database.
Craine, K. (2007, September). Managing the Cycle of Change. Information Management Journal,41(5), 44-50. Retrieved July 22, 2009, from Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text database.
Submitted to California Libraries by:
Shawn Stamm
CSUN/UNT MLIS Student
Posted on February 18, 2010 9:38 AM | Permalink