Information literacy amongst UK SMEs: an information policy gap

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore information literacy amongst small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK and the USA and argue that information policy in the UK has not given sufficient attention to helping these companies navigate the ever-increasing volumes of information accessible over the internet. Design/methodology/approach – A combination of primary and secondary data have been used. The primary data consists of a survey of UK SMEs, which explored how these companies use the internet as a research tool. The results of the survey are compared to similar surveys carried out in the USA. Several significant UK policy documents are examined to find out how government policy in this area has addressed the issue of information literacy amongst SMEs. Findings – It is shown that UK SMEs wasted over £3.7 billion in 2005 in terms of time wasted through inefficient use of the internet as a research tool. Practical implications – It is argued that while government policies in this area have put resources into encouraging SMEs to adopt broadband and engage in e-commerce, they have not sufficiently addressed the issue of information literacy. Originality/value – Little research has been carried out into how SMEs use the internet as a research tool, and this is the first time that a financial cost figure has been applied to inefficient searching by these organisations

Assessing Digital Information Literacy in Higher Education: A Review of Existing Frameworks and Assessments With Recommendations for Next‐Generation Assessment

“…For example, in one study, employees reported that they do not know what resources are available to them and therefore waste valuable time looking at information from inappropriate sources, which may also compromise the quality of their work (Cheuk, ). Similarly, De Saulles () attributed loss of business income in the United Kingdom to inefficient searching for information. Others have reported that many workforce employees lack the skills to use information effectively (Head, ; Raish & Rimland, ; Thompson, ).…”

Helping the Non-Scholar Scholar: Information Literacy for Lifelong Learners

“…With such a variety of information readily available by way of the Internet and search engines, many believe that they are capable of finding what they need using simple Internet searches. A comfort with using computers and other technologies, including mobile devices, often leads individuals to overestimate their searching abilities, thereby underestimating their need for information literacy training (Bruce 1999;Campbell, 2004;DeSaulles, 2007;Jensen, et al, 2010;Ramesha, 2008;Spiranec & Pejova, 2010;Underwood, 2009). The work of the Information Literacy Initiative addresses several of these issues.…”

“…There is often confusion between computer literacy and information literacy (Bruce, 1999;Campbell, 2004;DeSaulles, 2007;Jensen, King, Davis, & Guntzviller, 2010;Ramesha, 2008;Spiranec & Pejova, 2010;Underwood, 2009). Some of the problems that arise from being able to successfully navigate the technology, but not the information, include the use of out-of-date information, being unaware of important resources, and the assumption that Google is the best approach to finding information (Cheuk, 2008).…”

“…A 2009 IDC white paper estimates that this wasted time costs more than $1.5 trillion in U.S. salaries (Gantz, Boyd, & Dowling, 2009). With workers in the United States spending approximately nine and a half hours a week searching the Internet and databases, it estimated that a third of that time is spent on searches that do not yield the required information (DeSaulles, 2007). This wasted time comes with a high price.…”

“…As further testament to the importance placed on information by the business world, it is estimated that in the year 2000, $884.3 billion was spent in the United States on information technology (Feldman & Sherman, 2003). Likewise, the United Kingdom has also spent considerable amounts of money encouraging the development of broadband and telecommunication technologies for small-and medium-sized businesses (DeSaulles, 2007). While technology is often an important component of information work in today's digital world, it is not sufficient for information literacy.…”