Within the references of this discourse (Rowley, 1998) a pattern develops dealing with defining ‘Information’ through inclusion of ideas from Buckland (1991) about information as a ‘thing’, and Braman’s (Branman, 1989) field based definition of information. Further, the notion of information as a resource is also brought to attention through the introduction of Eaton and Bawden’s (1991) text on what kind of resource information is.
A link, also seems to exist to the concept of ‘Knowledge’ and its relationship to information (Koniger & Janowitz, 1995). The establishment of ‘What is Information Management? (Rowley, 1998, p. 360) is supported by the recognized references retaining to other scholars (Cronin & Davenport, 1991; Lewis & Martin, 1989; Davenport E. , 1988) work within the Information Management topic.
Generalization and meaning – creation of concepts
The main themes and topics, found within the discourse highlight a focus on Information and Knowledge, and Information Management. In order, to create meaning from these concepts Rowley (1998) coins together the two in her explanation of what Information Management is (Rowley, 1998, p. 360).
In the construction, of meaning of what Information Management is, Rowley (1998) actually contrasts the concept to that of information processing, which deals with the sorting an summarizing of data (Curtis, 1989). The contrast, that is depicted by Rowley (1998) concerning Information Management and information processing is that the first is viewed as the professional control of the information, opposed to the facilitator role of the latter.
Rowley (1998), further seeks a construction of meaning surrounding Information Management through the introduction her own definition of the concept. The first part of the definition outlines the aim of Information Management as,
“The aim of Information Management is to promote organizational effectiveness by enhancing the capabilities of the organization to cope with the demands of its internal and external environments in dynamic as well as stable organizations.” (Rowley, 1998, p.
361)
Through this outline, the meaning of Information Management that can be drawn from Rowley’s (1998) definition is that Information Management is linked to organizational effectives and further should function as a response to both internal and external demands.
Thus, the construction of the concept can be said to be centered round an optimizing and coordinating role within the organization.
The next part of Rowley’s (1998) definition then deals with the practical implication as,
“Information Management includes organization wide information policy planning, the development and maintenance of integrated systems and services, the optimization of information flows and the harnessing of leading edge technologies to the functional requirements of end-users, whatever their status or role in the parent organization.” (Rowley, 1998, p. 361)
Here, meaning is given to the Information Management concept as practice based where the actions that are required within this field imply balancing internal policy demands with the current systems, as well as user-needs and upcoming trends. Rowley (1998), further suggests that these functions should be controlled by the Information manager, which she gives meaning to through the adding of managing and coordination responsibilities as well as activities in the form of designing and implementation of information systems. This is also in line with the last bit of the Information Management definition provided by Rowley (1998) which outlines two dimensions of Information Management, that is, “
…the management of the information process and the management of data resources.”
(Rowley, 1998, p. 361)
The definition, provided by Rowley (1998) allows for the view that is presented in the discourse from a holistic perspective where the information manager responsibility lies with all of us as we all share and sort information (Cronin & Davenport, 1991). The
picture, of Information Management, that is constructed in the first sections of Rowley’s (1998) discourse outline the diverse field within which Information Management exists and therefore meaning is sought through the creation of a framework for Information Management (Rowley, 1998, p. 362, Fig. 1).
The framework created, link together four meaning creating elements, Information Environment, Information Contexts, Information Systems, and Information Retrieval (Rowley, 1998, p. 363). From an organizational effectiveness perspective that is also highlighted in Rowley’s (1998) definition of Information Management given above, the Information Retrieval level is highlighted as a key component. However, the three other elements are meant to aid in the facilitation of information retrieval that is operative for effectiveness (Rowley, 1998). This focus, on information retrieval outcome, is further added meaning through Rowley’s (1998) notion of how it can exist on two levels: a mircoinformatic level, dealing with the individuals need and use of information, and a macroinformatic level, taking a more general look a relationship between information, society and the organization.
The information retrieval level, gains another meaning aspect as it is linked back to the topic of information and knowledge that occurs in Rowley’s (1998) discourse with the operative notion of how the need for new knowledge and research within Information Management is needed.
Semantic relation to the meaning of Information Management
The discourse, put forward by Rowley (1998), concerning the move towards a Framework for Information Management provides a perspective on what Information Management in fact can be characterized as, and how it can be carried out in practice. Rowley (1998) adds to the meaning of Information Management as a concept by suggesting the link between the concept and organizational effectiveness, there through establishing that there is a need for strategic thinking along these lines within organizations.
Rowley’s (1998) framework, also introduces new concepts that can fit under the Information Management umbrella in the form of Information Environment, Information Contexts and Information Retrieval. Through the introduction of these levels, the meaning of Information Management as a concept is broadened to include more than the notion of Information Systems and also implies that consideration must be given in regards to
understanding the situation and outcome of information. The framework leads Rowley (1998) to opt for more research within each of her proposed levels of the framework through her recognition of Information Management as diverse and ambiguous.
Finally, the notion of knowledge creation and the tie to Information Management allows Rowley (1998) to enforce the need for knowledge creation to be facilitated both within Information Management research but also within the organizational context. The underlining, of Information Management as a constructive force in regards to knowledge creation and research enabling highlights that a need for further research of Information Management exists.
3.2.2 Information Management in the Global World of 1990-1999
The construction of Information Management, within this time period can to a large extent be viewed as being influenced by the increased awareness of the Global World and the mechanisms of IT and the multinationalization that drives it. This is visible, in the first text from the period from Karimi and Konsynski (1991) who, in their discourse, opt for the consideration of different strategies towards Information Management within the new multinational companies. In line with the historical observations, the increasing liberalization of the international markets and the technical possibilities in terms of cross national communication and coordination are raising new strategic challenges for organizations. This perspective is further observed in the construction of Information Management that Jarvenpaa and Ives (1994) create through their discourse on the implications of the creation of information architecture and information culture within the Global Networked Organization. The emerging organizational types, also bring Jarvenpaa
& Ives (1994) to introduce the notion of ‘knowledge worker’ putting focus on the creation of a certain type of skilled personnel, relating to the network organization. An interesting link to the historical overview is then that this relates to the need for more IT knowledgeable and skilled personnel arising in the 1990s (Giddens, 2009) and thus this supports Jarvenpaa & Ives (1994) conclusions.
The increasingly important role of IT in relation to Information Management can largely be observed within the texts of this time period. Authors, such as Karimi and Konsynski (1991), Davenport (1994) and Jarvenpaa and Ives (1994), all deal with some of the
practical implications of Information Management and in these descriptions the role of IT dominates the discourses. Through this, the opinions of the function of IT within Information Management vary from a high focus of Information Management as the creator of technology based Global Information Systems (Karimi & Konsynski, 1991) to the role of Information Management as a technical facilitator of information architecture and Information Technology culture (Jarvenpaa & Ives, 1994). Davenport’s (1994) discourse however includes another perspective of Information Management and IT by the introduction of the Human Centered approach that recognizes IT as important tools for Information Management, but puts the focus of the Information Manager on the individuals’ behavior with information.
The understanding of creating character of Information Management is also promoted in Anand, Manz and Glick’s (1998) discourse regarding the recognition of what they deem
‘soft-knowledge’ and where this understanding comes first and is then to be supported by appropriate media. Here an alignment of Information Management and IT is opted for, but with the focus on Information Management first as a manager of the information and knowledge that an individual retains (Anand, Manz, & Glick, 1998).
Finally, one of the discourses that stand out within those already addressed, is that surrounding Rowley’s (1998) framework for Information Management. In Rowley’s (1998) Information Management specific discourse the constructive elements are created around the presentation of a framework to function as an enabler of understanding of and further research within Information Management. Rowley (1998) makes an attempt at moving the understanding of Information Management from a theoretical view towards a more practical one, which points to certain levels dealing with information environment, information context, information systems and information retrieval. With this she creates an awareness of how the constructs of Information Management as a concept need to be defined in terms of process and results.
3.3 Time period III: 2000-2010
In the early 2000s, the global society became more and more dominant through the technology enabled possibilities as well as the national societies acceptance of the conditions of the globalized world (Giddens, 2007). The rise of new international and regional government structures increased in number and power underlining the growing connectedness (Giddens, 2009). However, the happenings of September 11th, 2001 when the twin towers in New York were hit by terrorism created an instant and very powerful awareness of the vulnerability that is connected to the global society (Giddens, 2007).
Following this time, societies of the world were to an increased extent concerned with the notion of the multiculturalism that was spreading through the increased globalization, and Giddens (2007) notes that where this has earlier been tied to a mainly positive effect of globalization it now takes on a more negative character. Globalization, was suddenly not only thought of as a new world of opportunity but also as a place where the individual and society became more vulnerable.
The time period, was further influenced by a focus on more person-centered systems both in work and within the welfare system (Giddens, 2007), This includes the emergence of online social networks where the individual could connect with other individuals across nation boarders and time zones. The individual expression, became increasingly more important as the ability to stand out from others and have your say in the world was becoming more difficult in line with the many new connections and possibilities available (Giddens, 2009). The global connection, of many of the key functions of society also led to increased focus on the notion of a global culture (Giddens, 2009) aided by the occurrence of a new and more specialized computer mediated communication opportunities (Feraud, 2000). Developing from the notion of global culture was a new and very powerful view of individualism where it was up to the single person to construct their own identities (Giddens, 2009).
Growth within technology in terms of the availability of more and more functions online, such as shopping, communicating, banking etc. created a move towards an electronic economy where more and more of the individuals time is spend online (Buchanan, 2006).
Further, the electronic economy also created further ties to a Global Community through the integration towards a Global economy (Giddens, 2009).
The outline, of the overall contexts enable an understanding of the time period of 2000-2010 as one where increasing awareness of the opportunities and risk connected to the global environment emerged. Further, the linking of many of the central mechanisms of society on a global level created the move towards a world that was more and more tied together in all aspects. An increased need, to create individual expressions emerged and the identity creation became even more important as the security net of a close-knit society was slowly being pulled away.
3.3.1 Analysis of the selected texts, 2000-2010
An outline, of the chosen texts are displayed below in order to provide an overview of their timely placement and relation.
Author(s) Title Publication Appendix
Schlögl, C. (2005) Information and knowledge management: dimensions and approaches
Information
Research 10A
Choo, C.W., Furness, P.S., Van den Berg, H., Detlor, B., Bergeron, P., Heaton, L.
(2006)
Working with information:
Information Management and culture in a professional services organization
Journal of Information Science
10B
Teevan, J., Jones, W. (2006) Personal Information Management
Communication of
the ACM 10C
Anand, K.S., Goyal, M.
(2009)
Strategic Information
Management Under Leakage in a Supply Chain
Academy of Management
Review 10D
Detlor, B. (2010) Information Management International Journal of Information Management
10E
Table 3: Overview of the 5 selected texts within the time period from 2000-2010 (For full list see appendix 10)
Text 1. Information and knowledge management: Approaches and Dimensions