Information Overload: Too Much of a Good Thing

What is information overload?

Information overload occurs when the rate of information flow into a system and/or the complexity of that information exceed the system’s processing capacity.

SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM: THE INFORMATION AVALANCHE

What is the scope of this problem for this generation?

 This generation is more besieged by

information than any that preceded it, and perhaps more so than any all previous generations combined.

CONSEQUENCES: THE DOWNSIDE OF INFORMATIONWhat are the four main consequences of

information overload and why are they relevant to group decision making and problem solving?

1.It impairs critical thinking. 2.It promotes indecisiveness. 3.It causes information bulimia. 4.It produces a kind of group attention

deficit disorder.

COPING WITH INFORMATION OVERLOAD: WRESTLING THE BEASTHow can you cope with information overload?

1.Screening the information, separate the useful from the useless

2.Shutting off technology, no cell phones or emails 3.Specializing, knowing more about less4.Becoming selective, on a need-to-know basis by

prioritizing5.Limiting the search, allow time to reflect and

evaluate information6.Narrowing the search, looking only for credible

information

INFORMATION UNDERLOAD: POOR SHARINGWhat is information underload?

Information underload refers to an insufficient amount of information (inadequate input) available to a group for decision-making purposes.

If information is not shared in the group, it can be a disaster.

Often, it can be a problem of too much closedness in a system and the solution is to open up the lines of communication.

MINDSETS: CRITICAL THINKING FROZEN SOLIDWhat is meant by mindsets and how does it

relate to decision making?

Perceptual mindsets are psychological and cognitive predispositions to see the world in a particular way.

They interfere with effective group decision making and problem.

Our minds are set to view the world in a particular way even if this is inappropriate.

CONFIRMATION BIAS: ONE-SIDED INFORMATION SEARCHESWhat is confirmation bias? It is the strong tendency to seek information

that confirms our beliefs and attitudes and to ignore information that contradicts our currently held beliefs and attitudes.

Confirmation bias is a single problematic aspect of human reasoning, because our bias is to search for information that supports our point of view and this interferes with our problem solving and decision making.

COMBATING CONFIRMATION BIAS: A PLANHow can you combat confirmation bias?

1.Seek disconfirming information and evidence. Someone performs an error-correction function for the group.

2.Vigorously present disconfirming evidence to the group. Assert yourself and be persistent with this evidence.

3.Play devil’s advocate. Challenge and question the other side.

4.Gather allies to help challenge confirmation bias. Get other members to be as open-minded as you are.

COLLECTIVE INFERENTIAL ERROR: UNCRITICAL THINKINGWhat is an inference?

Inferences are conclusions about the unknown based one what is known.

They are guesses varying by degrees from educated to uneducated depending on the quantity and quality of information on which the inferences are based.

Our minds go beyond the information given.You draw inferences from previous experiences,

factual data, and predispositions.The problem with inferences is, we assume they

are facts. That will hurt our group decisions.

GROUPTHINK: CRITICAL THINKINGIS SUSPENDED ANIMATIONWhat is groupthink?

A mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members striving for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action

The more cohesive a group is, the greater the danger of groupthink.

Critical thinking and decision making are sacrificed when members are overly concerned with reaching agreement, avoiding conflict and preserving friendly relations in the group.

Groupthink is not the cause of every decision-making fiasco. Other things such as information overload, mindsets, inferences, etc.,cause poor decision blunders.

IDENTIFICATION OF GROUPTHINK: MAIN SYMPTOMSWhat are some symptoms of groupthink?

1.Overestimation of the group’s power and

morality

2.Closed-mindedness

3.Pressures toward uniformity

PREVENTING GROUPTHINK: PROMOTING VIGILANCEHow do you prevent groupthink?

1.Recognize groupthink when it first begins2.Minimize status differences3.Seek information that challenges emerging

concurrence4.Develop norms that legitimizes disagreement

“Being There”VIDEO CASE STUDY

“Thirteen Days” – Scene 1VIDEO CASE STUDY

“Thirteen Days” – Scene 2VIDEO CASE STUDY

“Thirteen Days” – Scene 3VIDEO CASE STUDY