DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCEINFORMATION SCIENCE

Sense making’s theory: a brief introductionSense making’s theory: a brief introduction

Student Student LETITIA LEKAYLETITIA LEKAY

92366729236672Information Seeking Behaviour Information Seeking Behaviour

Monday 17 AUGUST 2009Monday 17 AUGUST 2009

CONTENTCONTENT

1.1. IntroductionIntroduction 2.2. Sense making theorySense making theory 3.3. Sense making and Information Sense making and Information

Seeking Seeking BehaviourBehaviour 4.4. Cynefin ProcessCynefin Process 5.5. ConclusionConclusion

IntroductionIntroduction Dervin’s model assumes a number of things; such as:Dervin’s model assumes a number of things; such as: Individual moving in time-space; human reality is not Individual moving in time-space; human reality is not

consequent; the individual makes sense of reality in consequent; the individual makes sense of reality in order to bring order, to bridge gaps eg, information order to bring order, to bridge gaps eg, information seeking etc.seeking etc.

Dervin’s model will be compared with two other well Dervin’s model will be compared with two other well known scholars, on sense making theory;known scholars, on sense making theory;

Klein (2005:6) sense making is the ability or attempt to Klein (2005:6) sense making is the ability or attempt to make sense of an ambiguous situation;make sense of an ambiguous situation;

More exactly, sense making is the process of creating More exactly, sense making is the process of creating situational awareness and understanding in situation of situational awareness and understanding in situation of high complexity or uncertainty in order to make decision;high complexity or uncertainty in order to make decision;

The Cynefin framework will be briefly discussed in this The Cynefin framework will be briefly discussed in this presentation;presentation;

Sense Making TheorySense Making Theory Dervin (1999: 4) argues that sense making makes a different set of Dervin (1999: 4) argues that sense making makes a different set of

assumptions;assumptions; Assumptions focus on the gaps; chaos in conduct of human affairs;Assumptions focus on the gaps; chaos in conduct of human affairs; Sense making is both ontology and epistemology;Sense making is both ontology and epistemology; Weick (1995) argues sense making to the extreme when people encounter Weick (1995) argues sense making to the extreme when people encounter

an event whose occurrence is so plausible, i.e. people hesitate an incidence an event whose occurrence is so plausible, i.e. people hesitate an incidence for fear they will not be believed; for fear they will not be believed;

People in a situation like this will normally think it can’t be, therefore it isn't;People in a situation like this will normally think it can’t be, therefore it isn't; Sense making according Weick (1995: 8) is therefore:Sense making according Weick (1995: 8) is therefore: On going of flow events;On going of flow events; Discrepant cues;Discrepant cues; Plausible speculation;Plausible speculation; Speculations publishes;Speculations publishes; Dervin (1999) assumes that humans sometimes use what sense making Dervin (1999) assumes that humans sometimes use what sense making

calls factizing calls factizing The difference in humans arises because humans create different angles of The difference in humans arises because humans create different angles of

information seeking, namely cognitive, emotional, physical and spiritual.information seeking, namely cognitive, emotional, physical and spiritual.

Sense Making theorySense Making theory

Dervin (1999: 4) further argues sense making is Dervin (1999: 4) further argues sense making is a meta-theorized strategy for every step in the a meta-theorized strategy for every step in the communication process;communication process;

According to Kari (1996: 6) the main part in According to Kari (1996: 6) the main part in meta-theory used in the study is constituted by meta-theory used in the study is constituted by sense making theory;sense making theory;

Kari named three theories namely:Kari named three theories namely: Theory that enables to scrutinize;Theory that enables to scrutinize; Sense making information theory;Sense making information theory; The approach.The approach.

Sense making and information Sense making and information behaviourbehaviour

Fundamental when it comes to study of sense Fundamental when it comes to study of sense making;making;

Constantly find ourselves in situations where Constantly find ourselves in situations where information is needed;information is needed;

Dervin cited in Solomon (1997)asked following Dervin cited in Solomon (1997)asked following questions on sense making & information behaviour;questions on sense making & information behaviour;

Can information be information until it is processed in Can information be information until it is processed in sense making?sense making?

Solomon (1997) views information and information Solomon (1997) views information and information behaviour as part & parcel of the whole sense behaviour as part & parcel of the whole sense making process.making process.

Cynefin FrameworkCynefin Framework

Important framework of sense making;Important framework of sense making; Meant to give decision makers powerful Meant to give decision makers powerful

constructs;constructs; Transformation of Government as an Transformation of Government as an

example;example; Helps people to break out of their old ways Helps people to break out of their old ways

of thinking;of thinking; Framework usefull in collective sense Framework usefull in collective sense

making;making;

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION In sum, from the broad view of space, time and information needs In sum, from the broad view of space, time and information needs

were repeated in this essay, which presents a theory of sense were repeated in this essay, which presents a theory of sense making. Sense making does not enclose the “real” as in many making. Sense making does not enclose the “real” as in many phenomenological, constructivist, linguistic, and interpretive phenomenological, constructivist, linguistic, and interpretive approaches (Dervin, 1999). Weick on the other hand refers to approaches (Dervin, 1999). Weick on the other hand refers to sense making theory when he says how we understand, interpret, sense making theory when he says how we understand, interpret, and the attribution of sense making, which are followed by a and the attribution of sense making, which are followed by a process.process.

Kari makes use of the metatheory in his study of sense making. Kari makes use of the metatheory in his study of sense making. Information needs and information behavior is fundamental when it Information needs and information behavior is fundamental when it comes to sense making. Information is an active process of comes to sense making. Information is an active process of ongoing information design, designing the world, making sense of ongoing information design, designing the world, making sense of the world. As Dervin sates, sense making does not assumes that the world. As Dervin sates, sense making does not assumes that every person’s sense making is useful to the other person.every person’s sense making is useful to the other person.

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!