information. Every author has a different style and approaches a topic in a different
manner. Thus, when the author is not known, a person accessing the information
source via the information system may not understand the text. We propose IO
perceived is lower when information is understandable and is presented in a precise,
complete and clear way.
Proposition 9 The understandability of information provided by the information
system has a negative impact on IO. The more people perceive the information
provided by the information system to be understandable, the less IO they are likely
to experience positively affecting organizational health.
3 Countermeasures to Reduce IO and Improve
Organizational Health Conditions
We have argued that, among others, individual characteristics of decision-makers
determine the information overload perceived. Therefore, countermeasures to reduce
information overload can partly be pointed towards changing these characteristics.
Changing one’s individual characteristics is very difficult though and perhaps even
impossible. There exist genes which are linked to behaviour, including thrill seeking
and anxiety. In fact, there is clear evidence that suggests that genetic factors
determine the development and functioning of personality (Jang 2001). Then,
because one cannot chance one’s genes, one can also not change ones individual
characteristics. However, there do exist possibilities to decrease the information
overload at the individual level. The first method to decrease the information
overload at the individual level is by improving a person’s cognitive functions.
This can be reached by training the working memory capacity of the individual
decision-maker (by, e.g. mnemonics). People could also train in speed reading or
text scanning where text is quickly read and absorbed. The more people read texts
and write reports, the more they will learn the ability to scan texts. When the personal
management of information is optimized, the chances that information overload will
occur will be lower. A straightforward example is the desktop in the decisionmaker’s office. When it is clean, information can easier be found. Another example
is the personal management of files on the computer. Microsoft Windows makes use
of a ‘my documents’ folder. Most people using the text processor word will save
important documents in this folder and do not have folders in the ‘my documents’
folder. Email overload is a problem which is affecting managers severely. When
looking at the problem of email overload, there are several possibilities with respect
to the management of emails. Whittaker and Sidner (1996) have done empirical
research into the topic of email overload and have identified three different user
strategies, based on two criteria: whether or not users use folders and how users clean
up there inbox. It resulted in three possible strategies for email management: no
filers, frequent filers and spring cleaners. No filers are people who do not use folders,
frequent filers are people how use folders and clean up their inbox every day and
spring cleaners are people who use folders and clean up their inbox periodically. The
9 Strategic and Managerial Decision-Making for Sustainable Management: Factors. . .
169
manner. Thus, when the author is not known, a person accessing the information
source via the information system may not understand the text. We propose IO
perceived is lower when information is understandable and is presented in a precise,
complete and clear way.
Proposition 9 The understandability of information provided by the information
system has a negative impact on IO. The more people perceive the information
provided by the information system to be understandable, the less IO they are likely
to experience positively affecting organizational health.
3 Countermeasures to Reduce IO and Improve
Organizational Health Conditions
We have argued that, among others, individual characteristics of decision-makers
determine the information overload perceived. Therefore, countermeasures to reduce
information overload can partly be pointed towards changing these characteristics.
Changing one’s individual characteristics is very difficult though and perhaps even
impossible. There exist genes which are linked to behaviour, including thrill seeking
and anxiety. In fact, there is clear evidence that suggests that genetic factors
determine the development and functioning of personality (Jang 2001). Then,
because one cannot chance one’s genes, one can also not change ones individual
characteristics. However, there do exist possibilities to decrease the information
overload at the individual level. The first method to decrease the information
overload at the individual level is by improving a person’s cognitive functions.
This can be reached by training the working memory capacity of the individual
decision-maker (by, e.g. mnemonics). People could also train in speed reading or
text scanning where text is quickly read and absorbed. The more people read texts
and write reports, the more they will learn the ability to scan texts. When the personal
management of information is optimized, the chances that information overload will
occur will be lower. A straightforward example is the desktop in the decisionmaker’s office. When it is clean, information can easier be found. Another example
is the personal management of files on the computer. Microsoft Windows makes use
of a ‘my documents’ folder. Most people using the text processor word will save
important documents in this folder and do not have folders in the ‘my documents’
folder. Email overload is a problem which is affecting managers severely. When
looking at the problem of email overload, there are several possibilities with respect
to the management of emails. Whittaker and Sidner (1996) have done empirical
research into the topic of email overload and have identified three different user
strategies, based on two criteria: whether or not users use folders and how users clean
up there inbox. It resulted in three possible strategies for email management: no
filers, frequent filers and spring cleaners. No filers are people who do not use folders,
frequent filers are people how use folders and clean up their inbox every day and
spring cleaners are people who use folders and clean up their inbox periodically. The
9 Strategic and Managerial Decision-Making for Sustainable Management: Factors. . .
169