Information culture and information use: An exploratory study of three organizations

Abstract

This research explores the link between information culture and information use in three organizations. We ask if there is a way to systematically identify information behaviors and values that can characterize the information culture of an organization, and whether this culture has an effect on information use outcomes. The primary method of data collection was a questionnaire survey that was applied to a national law firm, a public health agency, and an engineering company. Over 650 persons in the three organizations answered the survey. Data analysis suggests that the questionnaire instrument was able to elicit information behaviors and values that denote an organization's information culture. Moreover, the information behaviors and values of each organization were able to explain 30-50% of the variance in information use outcomes. We conclude that it is possible to identify behaviors and values that describe an organization's information culture, and that the sets of identified behaviors and values can account for significant proportions of the variance in information use outcomes.

Gestão da informação e a importância do uso de fontes de informação para geração de conhecimento

“…E o percurso da informação e do conhecimento em um contexto organizacional é permeado de meandros. Choo (2006Choo ( , 2008, em sua abordagem, tenta explicar como as organizações usam a informação para criar significado, construir conhecimento e tomar decisões, e expõe que o conhecimento está sustentado em três arenas: criação de significado, construção do conhecimento e tomada de decisão. O autor pondera que a cultura informacional de uma organização é determinada por um grande número de variáveis, tais como, sua missão, história, liderança, traços de funcionário, indústria, cultura nacional e assim por diante, e por fatores como o setor de atividade, tamanho organizacional, dispersão física, normas profissionais e uso de tecnologia da informação.…”

Information Interchange Layer based on Classification of Information Use (IU)

“…Ge [3] separates the dimensions were direct related to value of data/information and indirect (as supporing). Classification for phases of information also developed with model for process of Information Management Cycle [5]. The cycle of process start from defining a clear and detailed a need of information from whole enterprise (Information Need), determining a method to get (Information Acquisition) until process for usage of information intensively by users (Information Use).…”

“…Any information generated by any system will be classified based on direct impact for this three layers. Analysis for a various type of information within enterprise, related to a needs of 3 layers of management, generating a features extraction of information usage in enterprise (Mustaqiem 2011, Harita 2012 from [5]). Extraction yield the following table.…”

“…Therefore, can be indicated there is information characteristics which related indirectly to a system that produces information, but highly related to its use. Adopted from Choo [5] used a term of Information Use (IU) as a classification of information characteristic in usage stage or based on characteristics of its user. Characteristics on classification of IU to be evaluated is appropriateness format, which is in this study defined as fitness between information available with interests of its user.…”

Exploring the Impact of Decision Making Culture on the Information Quality – Information Use Relationship: An Empirical Investigation of Two Industries

“…For this study, we regard decision making culture as those elements of a company's culture that influence its decision making and use of information. Ginman (1988) explored the connection between decision making culture and business performance, Chun Wei Choo, Bergeron, Detlor, & Heaton (2008) explored the relationship between information culture and information use whereas Tierney (2008) provides a more theoretical view of the impact of culture on organizational decision making. Regardless of different fields of study of culture of decision making, a common understanding is that a more developed decision culture reinforces the use of quality information for decision making.…”