Inter-Organizational Collaboration, Information Flows, and the Use of Social Media During Disasters: A Focus on Vulnerable Communities

This study contributes to ongoing attempts by scholars to understand the many ways that social media is being used by disaster and crisis response actors. We present a case study consisting of emergency response organizations, government agencies, local government, non-government organizations, community groups and platform-based actors, and focus specifically on how social media is used in this context to support the information needs of vulnerable groups. We examine how tension between the presence of top-down, generic information and the need for contextualized and specific information is resolved, and the translation processes that occur between the range of actors. We also offer recommendations for future research to address the disproportionate impacts of disasters and crises on vulnerable groups

Technology Acceptance Model as a predictor of using information system’ to acquire information literacy skills

Abstract: The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is gaining popularity for understanding the relationship between humans and technology through Perceived Usefulness (PU) and Perceived Ease of Use (PEU). The foremost rationale for adopting the TAM in this study was to present a foundation for ascertaining the impact of external variables on internal beliefs, personal abilities, attitude, mind-set and intention in attaining Information Literacy (IL) skills. The TAM is an information system theory that propagates stages to be followed by information seekers or learners in the acceptance, inculcating and utilisation of new technology to achieve information literacy skills. This study evaluates the TAM’s main variables for Information Literacy acquisition such as: Perceived Usefulness (the intention to use, user training, computer experience, system quality) and Perceived Ease of Use (computer self-efficacy, perception of external control, ease of use, internet self-efficacy, efficacy of library use, computer anxiety, information anxiety, perceived enjoyment and objective usability, behaviour and intention). We intend to contextualise the TAM by analysing and explaining how the variables are applied in relationship to IL among school teachers. The outcome provides a deeper understanding and development of TAM as an appropriate model for Information Communication and Technology for Development (ICT4D)/social informatics/community informatics studies and for explaining the relationship between Information Literacy skills and technology acceptance. The study adopted qualitative content analysis method by selecting journals and conference papers relating to the subject matter of Technology Acceptance, which were evaluated, analyzed and reviewed in detail with regard to information literacy. The study identified resistance to information systems as a main reason for the failure of adoption of new technology in attaining information literacy. It was suggested that appropriate instruction and training on the use of technology and application to real life situation can lead to better information literacy

Efeitos da ilusão de controle e do foresight individual no valor percebido a processos de foresight organizacional

This research proposes an investigation into the reasons for low adherence for foresight processes in organizations. Studies involving the relevance of foresight processes have become increasingly frequent, driven by an environment of increasing volatility, uncertainty, ambiguity, and complexity. Despite the importance of the topic, which seeks to enable organizations to anticipate threats and opportunities from the environment through methods, thereis still little adherence to these practices, which justifies the purpose of this investigation. To achieve the proposed objective, a questionnaire was structured. Then, it was applied via electronic survey, allowing the observation of the effects of the illusion of control and individual foresight activities on the perceived value of formal foresight processes in organizations. The data were analyzed based on structural equations modeling with estimation through Partial Least Square (PLS). The sample was composed of 185 executives from the financial and technological sectors, and a reduction to the perceived value of foresight processes was identified, as a result of the illusion of control and individual practices of these activities. These results contribute to the understanding of the low adherence of foresight processes, from the perspective of cognitive biases attributed to the decision-maker.Esta pesquisa propõe uma investigação acerca dos motivos de baixa aderência de processos de foresight nas organizações. Estudos envolvendo a relevância de processos de foresight têm se tornado cada vez mais frequentes, impulsionados pelo ambiente de volatilidade, incerteza, ambiguidade e complexidade crescentes. Apesar da importância da temática, que busca através de métodos possibilitar que as organizações se antecipem às ameaças e oportunidades provenientes do ambiente, observa-se ainda pouca aderência a essas práticas, o que justifica o propósito desta investigação. Para atingir o objetivo proposto, foi estruturado um questionário, aplicado via survey eletrônica, observando os efeitos da ilusão de controle e de atividades individuais do foresight no valor percebido a processos formais de foresight nas organizações. Os dados foram analisados com base em modelagem de equações estruturais com estimação através de Partial Least Square (PLS). A amostra foi composta por 185 executivos dos setores financeiro e tecnológico, identificando uma redução ao valor percebido a processos de foresight em decorrência da ilusão de controle e das práticas individuais dessas atividades. Esses resultados colaboram para a compreensão da baixa adesão dos processos de foresight, sob a perspectiva de vieses cognitivos atribuídos ao tomador de decisão

Assessing the credibility of information sources in times of uncertainty: online debate about Finland's NATO membership

This article aims to elaborate the context-sensitive nature of credibility assessment by examining how such judgments are made in online discussion in times of uncertainty caused by Finland's intent to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in spring 2022. The empirical findings draw on the qualitative content analysis of 3,324 posts submitted to a Finnish online discussion in February–March 2022. It was examined how the participants of online discussion assess the credibility of information sources referred to in debates on the NATO membership. It is assumed that the believability of the author of information is indicative of his or her expert power, for example based on the credentials of a scholar, while the credibility of information content, for example the provision of factual evidence is indicative of the source's informational power. Political decision-makers, particularly the President of Finland were assessed as most credible information sources, due to their access to confidential knowledge and long-time experience in politics. The credibility assessments differed more strongly while judging the believability of researchers. On the one hand, their expertise was praised; on the other hand, doubts were presented about their partiality. Fellow participants of online discussion were assessed most negatively because information sources of these types are associated with low expert and informational power. As the study concentrated on credibility assessments made in a Finnish online discussion group, the findings cannot be extended to concern the credibility judgments occurring information in other contexts. The study is among the first to characterize the role of expert and informational power in credibility assessment in times of uncertainty.acceptedVersionPeer reviewe

Factors influencing effective information management using information technology systems in a public sector department

Magister Commercii (Information Management) - MCom(IM)The Public Sector encounters great challenges in its attempts to strengthen its public services. Public servants are in need of accurate and up-to-date information that can be readily accessible. They need information to be made available for effective and efficient decision-making. In order to improve service delivery, the Public Sector must aim to reach its objectives by increasing and improving accountability, transparency, efficiency, productivity and quality of services. This study focuses on factors, which influence information management in a Public Sector Department in an effective way to manage information properly. An extensive literature review was conducted of information, the role of information management, the possible critical failure and success factors of information management. This led to the discovery of four main categories for critical failure factors: (i) people; (ii) process; (iii) policy and; (iv) technology; and three categories for critical success factors: (i) organizational culture; (ii) top management support; and (iii) strategies. A conceptual model was then developed for these categories with seventeen factors. This model was subsequently tested in the empirical setting of the studied Public Sector Department in South Africa by utilising a qualitative approach through the case-study method. The findings suggest that the following factors would impact the successful implementation of an information management initiative for this Public Sector Department: information management; change management and communication strategies; culture; roles of responsibility for information; information lifecycle process; and information management policy. The intended audience for this study includes both academics and practitioners, as it introduces a conceptual model, as well as guidelines to implement these factors for information management in a Public Sector Department

Bushfire safety: examining the space between theory and practice

My thesis examines the space between the theory and practice of bushfire safety. I found that the space lies at the intersection of three complex systems of bureaucracy, people, and the environment. Responding to this dynamic requires facilitating human centred, strength-based practices to enable emergent and novel collaboration between stakeholders.<br /

The Influence of Social Media on Information Behaviour: A Policing Context

This research explores the information behaviour in a UK policing context with a focus on how social media influences their everyday work practice. More specifically it focuses on the policing of low-level crime and anti-social behaviour. Police tasks vary from structured and routine, to environments that are uncertain, complex and time pressured. Digital technologies such as social media have the potential to disrupt and destabilise existing work activities through the way people communicate, interact and share information. This is particularly the case for information intensive organisations such as police, which have, in recent years, started to engage with social media. There is a lack of empirical research on police use of social media and how it fits with existing work practices. Similarly there are limited studies that explore information behaviour in policing, and more specifically the mediating role of social media within this context. Therefore it is important to understand firstly how social media influences existing work practices and secondly how it influences information behaviour. To address these research questions, this research takes an interpretive approach using activity theory as a methodological and analytic framework. Semi-structured interviews and observations were conducted in three policing organisations. In exploring the first question it was found that the same tool (social media) was used in multiple ways, which created new and different ways of policing low-level crime and anti-social behaviour. This in turn led to new and distinct information behaviours in three different contexts. Three models of use were identified. In the emergent model, social media is used to share information with the public but a high degree of ambiguity constrained work practices, which also led to information avoidance. In the augmented model, social media is enhancing existing policing activities and is used for information seeking and to support decision making. In the transformed model, a radical change in policing activities is taking place. This led to new collaborative information behaviours evolving. This study provides new insights by highlighting the complexity and layers of police use of social media in practice. To the authors knowledge no other study has yet to dig below the surface of social media use and explore how police adopt social media in practice and how this adoption manifests in different and emerging information behaviour