Summary of Information Concepts and their Implications

 

Understanding of information concepts is very important and relevant to the system designer and the information user. The concepts are summarized as follows:

 

Filtering

 

The system designer should provide an appropriate filtering mechanism so that the information is not suppressed and relates to the frame of reference of the user.  Care should be taken in the process that the certain valid information does not get blocked or over emphasized. A filtering process is used to select and suppress the information.

 

Simon Model and is Application

 

The designer should attempt to provide such information that it clearly defines the problem space and also takes cognizance of the user's knowledge. The design of the system should be such that an appropriate mix of these two sources should yield a decision, leading to a solution of the problem.

 

Codes and Representation

 

The system designer should evolve such coding system that is easy for the users of the code to interpret. Secondly, the designer should report the data in such a manner that the user can grasp it quickly.

 

Highlighting

 

The designer should provide the information in such a way that the significant differences between the targets and the achievements, the standards, so that they become easily noticeable by the user without search. 

 

Individual differences	Explanation	Effect on information processing	Examples
Locus of control internal or external to the situation	The degree of perception in assessing the control which is internal to the organization or external to the organization.	More information gathering and analysis, if internal.	The production decisions, selection of tools and materials etc.
Personal dogmatism	The degree if faith in beliefs, opinions and past experience.	Low dogmatism, then more information collection and processing.	The pricing, advertising in a competitive environment.
Risk prosperity	The ability to take risk.	Higher than more information gathering and analysis.	The top management decision making in a strategic planning.
Tolerance for ambiguity	Level of clarity required in the information. The ability to read through the information.	Tight tolerance then more information collection and analysis.	Manager constantly asking for more information.
Manipulative intelligence	The ability to manipulate the data and information vis-à-vis the stored information and knowledge.	High ability, then less information and more self analysis.	Experienced and skillful managers rely on the manipulative intelligence.
Experience in decision making	Extent of experience at particular level of decision making.	High, then correct filtering of data and appropriate choice of decision making process	The managers with a wide experience in the different fields of management call for precise and less but pertinent information.
Knowledge of the task, tools and technology	The extent of knowledge in the application of the tools and technology.	Higher, then less information relevant to and tools and correct analysis.	The Technocrats, scientists, and managers of technology have definite information needs based on tools, models, methods used for decision making.
The management level from lower to higher	The nature of management decisions differ from lower to higher level.	Higher, then the unstructured information different analysis, and the use of the new decision models. Factual information at lower level.	The top management decisions regarding expansion, and diversification and the strategic business decisions.

 

Statistical Analysis

 

The designer should provide the information in such a way that the information not only represents something meaningfully but also aids in the statistical analysis by the user. The information should provide the additional results such as variance, correlation, coefficients, and futuristic estimates and give a measure of statistical significance for the user to consider while decision making.

 

Format

 

The designer should present the information in the form or format which is complete in all respects and in which all data is processed as per the frame of reference of the user. The user should not be required to do additional processing with other data set through the computer systems or mentally by using the data set from the memory.

 

Referencing and Adjustment

 

The designer should evolve a system in such a way that it covers the valid system boundaries and provides a reference to an acceptable point (the year, the product, the norm, the standard, the knowledge), giving a facility to make an adjustment to results or status which the information provides.

 

Cognitive Style

 

Each user has his own style of resolving or reconciling his internal view and an understanding of the problems or environment versus the actually perceived or seen or as it exists.  In line with his individual style, he also evolves a process of the decision making which is personal to him.

 

Learning Theory

 

The designer should appreciate that the user inadvertently is learning through the information and is building his knowledge set.  Hence the information should be such that the user is not overload with the supply of information which is already known to him.

 

Feedback Loop

 

The designer should provide the information feedback loop, so that the user understands that the process of decision implementation is smooth and the results are evaluated with references to the norms or the expectations, giving the user a sufficient motivation to change, amend or act.

 

Perceived Value of Data

 

Some data or information may not have a value or an importance in the current operations of the business but some time in the future or in a different context some value is perceived for the information. The designer would keep this data out of the current processing and reporting.

 

Information Absorption

 

The designer should provide only that amount of information which the user to grasp and use. Any additional information, beyond the ability of the user's absorption, will be ignored or go unnoticed without any response.

 

Individual Differences

 

The information needs of different managers will differ based on individual human processing ability and cognitive style. The designer should support all such needs effectively by making the separate information reports.