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Confusing Information Overload, Communication Overload, and
Work Overload
Yoram KalmanDepartment of Management and Economics
There is a problem
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We call it information overload
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And we often blame technology
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But why do we blame information for our
overload
? ? ?
But why do we blame information for our
overload
? ? ?:// . / -http tinyurl com blame
IO
I suggest that…
• Overload *is* a real workplace problem• But:
– we are wrong to attribute it to information– we are wrong to focus on (information)
technologies
• As long as we focus on the wrong issues, we will not make progress towards resolving the real problem/s
• Information fatigue
• Cognitive overload
• Technostress
• Data smog
• Technology crowding
• Sensory overload
• Information anxiety
• Information glut
• Continuous partial attention
• Attention deficit trait
• Infobesity
• Information fatigue syndrome
• Communication overload
• …
Three main “loads”
Information
CommunicationWork
Load ≠ Overload ≠ Stress
Janet’s workplace
Information Communication Work
Load
Overload
Stress
Janet’s workplace
Information Communication Work
New duties
Load
Overload
Stress
Janet’s workplace
Information Communication Work
Company-wide IM
New duties
Load
Overload
Stress
Janet’s workplace
Information Communication Work
New database
Company-wide IM
New duties
Load
Overload
Stress
Three main “loads”
Information
CommunicationWork
• Challenge – identifying the root causes of the stress
• Different causes – different solutions
• Interdependencies• Where are the knowledge workers?
How do we move forward?
• Most of the workplace stresses are not due to excessive information, nor due to technology
• Research:– The causal chain that leads to the stresses– The incentives/gratifications that encourage
practices which lead to the stresses• Imagine a workplace where technology
reduces stress and increases satisfactionI
CW
://http . / -tinyurl com blame IO
