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Advancing the Concepts & Practices of Information Resources Management in Modern Organizations

The Power of Informal Networks: A Perspective of Two Studies

The Power of Informal Networks: A Perspective of Two Studies
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Author(s): Irena Ali (Defence Science and Technology Organisation, Australia)
Copyright: 2007
Pages: 4
Source title: Managing Worldwide Operations and Communications with Information Technology
Source Editor(s): Mehdi Khosrow-Pour, D.B.A. (Information Resources Management Association, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-59904-929-8.ch143
ISBN13: 9781599049298
EISBN13: 9781466665378

Abstract

The terms ‘dissemination of information’, ‘information needs’, ‘information seeking’, and ‘information sharing’ are usually connected with library science. However, these concepts go beyond the field of librarianship, and are now considered elements of ‘information behaviour’. Information behaviour has been defined as “those activities a person may engage in when identifying his or her own needs for information, searching for such information in any way, and using or transferring that information (Wilson 1999 p.249 in Hyldegard 2006). Many organisations provide value for customers by facilitating the dissemination of information. They do so by strategically utilising their knowledge about customers’ information seeking and needs, and information and communication technology in support of networks of self-organising employee teams.

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