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