An information assistant system for the prevention of tunnel vision in crisis management

In the crisis management environment, tunnel vision is a set of bias in decision makers’ cognitive process which often leads to incorrect understanding of the real crisis situation, biased perception of information, and improper decisions. The tunnel vision phenomenon is a consequence of both the challenges in the task and the natural limitation in a human being’s cognitive process. An information assistant system is proposed with the purpose of preventing tunnel vision. The system serves as a platform for monitoring the on-going crisis event. All information goes through the system before arrives at the user. The system enhances the data quality, reduces the data quantity and presents the crisis information in a manner that prevents or repairs the user’s cognitive overload. While working with such a system, the users (crisis managers) are expected to be more likely to stay aware of the actual situation, stay open minded to possibilities, and make proper decisions

Collaborative information seeking behaviour of student groups in vocational education training institutions in Zanzibar

This stydy investigated collaborative information seeking behaviour of student groups at Vocational Education Training Institutions in Tanzania. Specifically, it sought to find out student group information needs and sources they use to meet their information needs. The study was conducted at Amali Pemba and Amali Zanzibar, and involved observation of two student groups namely tailoring students whose collaborative task was servicing of sewing machine (Amali Pemba) and electronics students whose collaborative task was of repairing a television set (Amali Zanzibar). Data were collected through observations, interviews and Focus Group Discussions. Data collected was qualitatively analysed using thematic analysis techniques. Key findings revealed a wide range of varying student group information needs pursuing two courses, which varied according to tools and type of task assigned to the group. Specifically, the student group servicing sewing machines needed information on sewing machine servicing steps and procedures, and tools to use, and the group responsible for repairing a television set needed information on television faults and how to fix them. Findings further revealed that in order to meet individual group information needs, both students groups relied largely on group members and teachers. Other sources consulted were search engines, internet, and colleagues outside the team or group. The lack of libraries and computers connected to the Internet negatively affected group information seeking and successful accomplishment of group tasks. It was also revealed that respondents were not aware of collaborative search tools which could have enabled users’ to communicate and collaborate synchronously during the information seeking and retrieval. In view of the above, this study recommends that libraries with internet connectivity should be established in all VET institutions, to enable students to access information they need. Furthermore, awareness should be created on collaborative search tools and software and hardware should be acquired to support CIS.Keywords: Collaborative Information Seeking Behaviour, Vocational Education Training Institutions (VETs), Zanziba

Evidence-Based Practice and Organizational Development in Libraries

This article is written for a Festschrift for F. W. Lancaster, and it summarizes the author???s library school experiences as a student of Professor Lancaster and Professor Herbert Goldhor at the University of Illinois. Both professors instilled in students a strong inclination to use real and appropriate information in evaluating situations, making decisions, delivering information services, and managing libraries. The author suggests that this Lancaster-Goldhor approach to information, and to data-driven decision making, anticipated the current movement toward evidence-based practice (EBP) in libraries. He suggests that libraries embrace the premises, philosophy, values, and practices of organizational development (OD) as an overarching discipline that facilitates EBP in the library culture, and ultimately leads to healthier and more effective organizations. This article complements a 2004 Library Trends article on OD, and numerous recent publications on OD and related topics are cited.published or submitted for publicatio

Supporting decision making process with "Ideal" software agents: what do business executives want?

According to Simon’s (1977) decision making theory, intelligence is the first and most important phase in the decision making process. With the escalation of information resources available to business executives, it is becoming imperative to explore the potential and challenges of using agent-based systems to support the intelligence phase of decision-making. This research examines UK executives’ perceptions of using agent-based support systems and the criteria for design and development of their “ideal” intelligent software agents. The study adopted an inductive approach using focus groups to generate a preliminary set of design criteria of “ideal” agents. It then followed a deductive approach using semi-structured interviews to validate and enhance the criteria. This qualitative research has generated unique insights into executives’ perceptions of the design and use of agent-based support systems. The systematic content analysis of qualitative data led to the proposal and validation of design criteria at three levels. The findings revealed the most desirable criteria for agent based support systems from the end users’ point view. The design criteria can be used not only to guide intelligent agent system design but also system evaluation

Users' trust in information resources in the Web environment: a status report

This study has three aims; to provide an overview of the ways in which trust is either assessed or asserted in relation to the use and provision of resources in the Web environment for research and learning; to assess what solutions might be worth further investigation and whether establishing ways to assert trust in academic information resources could assist the development of information literacy; to help increase understanding of how perceptions of trust influence the behaviour of information users

Patient centred physical restraint: a case study of two NHS mental health inpatient wards

The nursing staffs who work in the NHS mental health in-patient wards sometimes physically restrain their patients. Whilst there are studies that have looked at the different aspects of the use of physical restraint, none has specifically investigated the experiences and perceptions of the staff on the use of the patient centred model of physical restraint in managing untoward incidents in the setting. As a trainer on the General Services Association model of physical intervention, I worked collaboratively with staff from two NHS mental health inpatient wards, users of physical restraint techniques, to explore their experiences, perspectives and indeed the effectiveness of the patient centred approach to physical restraint in their respective wards. Following a review of the relevant literature, the choice of a qualitative type of investigation based on the unmodified Husserlian phenomenological framework was made. To complement this style of investigation, focus group and semi-structured interviews were used to collect primary data from the study participants. Phenomenological recommendations were adopted in the analysis of data. Six core themes including: physical restraint of a patient is for safety and patient centred practices during restraint process emerged from the huge data. The findings confirmed that patient centred approach to physical restraint was effective with the patient groups in the participating wards. Participants emphatically stated that the model enabled a quick retrieval of the therapeutic relationship with their patients. This is in keeping with the ethos of mental health care which is reliant on therapeutic relationship with the patient

Special Libraries, December 1974

Volume 65, Issue 12https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1974/1008/thumbnail.jp

Special Libraries, September 1976

Volume 67, Issue 9https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1976/1007/thumbnail.jp