When politicians and the experts collide: Organization and the creation of information spheres

Abstract

This paper explores collaborative information behavior in the context of highly politicized decision making. It draws upon a qualitative case study of project management of a contentious public sector infrastructure project. We noted the creation of spaces for the development and exchange of information by experts and conceptualize these as information spheres. We postulate that these were formed to bypass power-induced information behavior that excludes expert power, such as information avoidance. This approach contrasts with the expected project management and information norms, rules and behavior, however, provides a language that can be used to explain the phenomena of bounded information spaces which complement and may be used as a development of adjunct to small world's theory.

Thomas Daniel Wilson: construyendo un camino en la ciencia de la información que avanza hacia la creación y el acceso a información inclusiva y al crecimiento del conocimiento

“…By way of example: an article on research methods, with a clear and intelligent approach to the subject (Wilson, 2002), passing through his concern for the future of libraries and the profession to the last ones; in one of them, he explores on the transfer of theories and models from information behaviour research into other disciplines . In co-authorship, Riley (2022) explore collaborative information behaviour in the context of highly politicized settings; and with Nonthacumjane, et al (2022), explore the aims, ways of working, and problems related to local information within a network of collaborating provincial university libraries in Thailand. His approach to his work throughout his three careers shows his integration into different research groups united by common goals and, in particular, a shared vision of the world with and for diverse communities of information users, but also recognising "standing on the shoulders of giants.…”