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Information Overload Newsletter
Information Overload is Information Enterprises Australia Pty Ltd (IEA's) free monthly e-zine. Written in an easy to read style, each newsletter covers a particular topic or area of interest. including Marketing of Library and Information Services, Records Management, Archiving, Human Resources and Business Management, and can be read and/or downloaded from our web site.
We also publish a Registrant Resources edition covering topics of interest for IEA's registrant base and anyone else who is looking for new job opportunities.
Subscription to Information Overload is now possible via the subscription button on the home page of our web site. Please note, we do not sell, rent or trade our subscriber base.
“Thanks so much. One article I found particularly useful was the one entitled "Electronic Archiving: A Discussion" I've read other articles on this issue, but yours is among the best -- easy to understand”
“Thank you once again for sending interesting articles to read. The topic certainly gives food for thought.”
“Only just got around to reading the issue above just wanted to let you know I found it to be informative, simple to read, understand and most important of all useful. Something I can now quote from when promoting Records”
Postings are in reverse chronological order.
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Information Overload - Issue 70 - September 2008 - Websites 7th Oct 2008 [pdf 159.72 kb]
The Internet has become one of the major business and social interaction tools in use today. With the internet anyone and everyone can be a publisher and probably has. But we are not going to talk about opinion, bias and hearsay (which is most website content if you think about it), but the reason why we create websites in the first place. Well I'm assuming it's so people can find you. Unfortunately, there are some people who still assume that if they launch a new website today, visitors will be beating a path to their door tomorrow. Sorry it doesn't work like that, and we tell you why.
Information Overload - Issue 69 - August 2008 - Information Management - What value your corporate library? 4th Sep 2008 [pdf 91.00 kb]
Have you ever had to justify the existence of your library and information centre, and just as importantly – your job? Or are you the kind of person who occasionally uses your organisations library – but give little or no thought to the work that goes on to create the service you sometimes use?
Information Overload - Issue 68 - July 2008 - Information Management - Vital Records 31st Jul 2008 [pdf 93.43 kb]
Maintaining access to our mission critical business information (vital records) is difficult. It appears technology moves at a faster pace than the organisations record keeping systems and the organisations who run said programs can keep up with. Every time we think we have a definitive answer to the interesting question – we find out we don't.
Information Overload - Issue 67 - May 2008 - Information Management - Digital Shadows 13th May 2008 [pdf 104.59 kb]
Previous editions of Information overload has touched on the subject of our digital selves, that is, information that is stored on a variety of electronic devices as well as information that we generate as a result of being "online". Today I would like to take that a step further and discuss the problems we face as record keepers with our expanding digital shadows and the impact that has on privacy.
Information Overload - Issue 66 - March 2008 - Information Management - Stealing our history 27th Mar 2008 [pdf 94.77 kb]
Custodians or profiteering? Why do some people abuse their position for personal gain?
Information Overload - Issue 65 - February 2008 - Web 2.0 - Blogs 12th Mar 2008 [pdf 93.39 kb]
Discusses the world of online information as it relates to personal weblogs (web logs), diaries and the increasing use of social networking.
Information Overload - Issue 64 - January 2008 - Customer Service - CRM 10th Jan 2008 [pdf 85.60 kb]
How good are your customer relationships?
Information Overload - Issue 63 - December 2007 - Information Managment - Second generation 21st Dec 2007 [pdf 106.74 kb]
We close out the year of Information Overload by looking at the role of the "modern" library in today's society. Or perhaps the title should have read, is there a role for the library in today's society? As you can imagine, this edition may get a little emotive at times, but perhaps now is the time to discuss the many issues we face in this technologically driven society. Just so you know, I am a qualified librarian, and worked directly in the industry for more than 20 years. However, as you may have realised by now, I no longer handle the day-to-day operations, so admit that I sit squarely on the fence on this one.
Information Overload - Issue 62 - October/November 2007 - Information Management - Retention and disposal of business records 16th Nov 2007 [pdf 132.06 kb]
Retention and disposal of business records is based on legal requirements as laid down by our state and federal goverment. The Australian Record Retention Manual tries to make sense of these laws and advises just how long you should really be keeping those documents for.
Information Overload - Issue 61 - September 2007 - Information Management - Preserving our past for the future 8th Oct 2007 [pdf 121.45 kb]
A small piece in the July/August edition of Image and Data Manager (IDM) on the problems conservators and archivists are having with Iron Gall Ink prompted me to take a good look at the mediums we use to store our vital information on. Why the concern over Iron Gall Ink? Well the document that Australia's constitution was created used this popular ink of the time. The problem is that the ink is eating through the parchment.
Information Overload - Issue 60 - August 2007 - Information Management - Big brother or just good records management? 24th Aug 2007 [pdf 29.13 kb]
We live in a very connected world. Just do a quick search on one of the many Internet search engines for your name and you will be amazed, if not a little concerned about the kinds of information stored about you in a very public forum.
Information Overload - Issue 59 - July 2007 - Employment Matters - Managing change 7th Aug 2007 [pdf 27.81 kb]
The July edition looks at two aspects of working in today's computer driven environment. Change management and continuing professional development. If you want to ensure that your employees and colleagues have the technical expertise to handle the ever-changing media then it is important to ensure that there is money in the budget for training.
Information Overload - Issue 58 - June 2007 - Information Management - Email 6th Jul 2007 [pdf 24.69 kb]
The June edition revisits what constitutes a record, especially in relation to email records and deletion of business records. We look in particular at the recent email issues relating to Neil Fong and Brian Burke, and the US Oversight Committee's investigation into the current Bush Adminstration.
Information Overload - Issue 57 - May 2007 - Information Management - Digital Divide 31st May 2007 [pdf 27.07 kb]
The May edition of Information Overload takes a look at the chasm that is the digital divide. As devices get smaller, storage and capabilities get bigger, and the costs are comparable to what we were paying several years ago, is it any wonder if is seen as a solution to getting rid of the forests of paper that sit in the cardboard boxes in our various sheds and disused buildings?
Information Overload - Issue 56 - April 2007 - Employment Matters - Ethical Corporate Culture - Possible or not? 30th Apr 2007 [pdf 23.13 kb]
The April edition of Information Overload takes a look at the Professional Codes of Conduct that we adhere to as practitioners in the library and information management profession in which we work. Are you aware of the many different clauses that govern our professional lives? Do you care if occasionally you overstep the boundaries surrounding ethical behaviour, after all few if any organisations seem to check to ensure that we are abiding by these rules and regulations. Are there any disciplinary procedures in place for blatant transgressions? Or is the industry in which we work, reliant on self-assessment and policing?
Information Overload - Issue 55 - March 2007 - Information Management - E-journals: Are we really saving space, time and money? 16th Mar 2007 [pdf 31.52 kb]
In November 2006 (Issue 51) we looked at some of the issues surrounding fee vs. free material. Today we would like to take it one step further and look at the impact electronic journals are having on the way that we conduct our business, and the services that we provide. Are we really saving space, time and money?
Information Overload - Issue 54 - February 2007 - Training Needs Analysis 6th Mar 2007 [pdf 23.79 kb]
Training Needs Analysis, why are they important, what reasons do you need to undertake one? What associated training will be required as a result of the initial identified training? What are the different learning styles and how does this impact on the kinds of training offered?
Information Overload - Issue 53 - January 2007 - Information Management - Project Management 2nd Feb 2007 [pdf 29.74 kb]
The beginning of any new year always seems to bring with it a flurry of activity. New projects are defined. Old ones are re-shuffled or shelved, and people slip back into the groove without too much of a struggle. This months edition looks at project management. What it is, what resources are needed and how on earth do you manage the process.
Information Overload - Issue 52 - December 2006 - Change Management - Communicating the value of IT 20th Dec 2006 [pdf 28.05 kb]
Communicating the value of IT sounds like a no-brainer really. We all know that technology has become a standard but important part of our daily lives, especially our working ones. But what happens if you need to change the way people work and change some of the old software for new? How do you convince people of the merits of the new system, when it looks like the new system does the same as the old one?
Information Overload - Issue 51 - November 2006 - Library Management - Fee vs. Free Debate 20th Nov 2006 [pdf 34.73 kb]
As an information professional I have been asked many times to justify the existence of the Information Centre or Library where I have worked. Management wanted to know why they should continue to pay for literature searching, articles and Inter Library Loans when they could find everything they needed "on the web". They also wanted to know why they should continue paying me when everyone had access to the Internet through their desktops. As most of you will be aware, the inroads being made by Google and others into making published works available on line, and with virtually every library catalogue available for searching, the arguments that we have used in the past may appear to be wearing a little thin. So how can we – as Information Professionals continue to justify our existence, and our salaries in the face of mounting digitisation and availability of free (and not so free) information on the web
Information Overload - Issue 50 - October 2006 - Library Management - When is a librarian... 18th Oct 2006 [pdf 34.67 kb]
What constitutes "relevant experience" when looking for work? And where can you find work as an information professional if you happen to be newly graduated, or transferring from one specialisation to another.
Information Overload - Issue 49 - September 2006 - Consulting Services - To be or not to be a consultant 12th Sep 2006 [pdf 34.18 kb]
we take a look at the life of a consultant. Do you have what it takes to become one? Have you ever aspired to being a consultant? If you read the September edition of the Registrant Resources edition of Overload, you will know we spoke about being the best in your field. Well being a consultant is not only being the best in your field, but at the same time, being able to pass on your knowledge in a way so that other people understand what it is you are trying to tell them and be willing to act on the suggestions and recommendation that you make. For those of you who have had dealings with consultants in the past, sometimes it is not the amount of information that someone possesses or imparts to others, but the way that information has been passed on that really makes a difference to your customers and clients.
Information Overload - Issue 48 - August 2006 - Information Management - What value information? 31st Aug 2006 [pdf 29.18 kb]
In this month's edition, we will be looking at the role of information and how it impacts on our lives. We will also look at what value we place on having the right information at the right time to make the right kind of decisions, decisions that can and do impact on the lives of everyone associated with us.
Information Overload - Issue 47 - July 2006 - Information Managment - Archiving web pages 31st Aug 2006 [pdf 36.52 kb]
There are problems with archiving web pages. If according to recent definitions a record is "any record of information however recorded." If that is the case then it stands to reason that web pages should also be included in the records management mix and be subject to the same laws and considerations as all other electronic information, whether born digital or not especially if they are "in pursuance of legal obligations or in the transactions of business." AS/ISO 15489. The question is – is anyone managing their web resources as "records" yet?
Information Overload - Issue 46 - June 2006 - Employment Matters - Managing the human resources - Knowledge management 28th Jun 2006 [pdf 27.12 kb]
Welcome to the June edition of Information Overload, and the end of another financial year here in Australia – yes it's tax return time again!! The start of the new financial year will see some interesting changes to the makeup of the workforce. The Australian government has changed the way that it handles certain groups of people, so more people will be eligible to work, assuming there are any jobs for them to have that is, and assuming that employers are willing to look beyond the traditional full-time worker. But with the additional changes to the legislation surrounding the workforce \"down under\" – namely the Industrial Regulations, whereby jobs can be made redundant under \"operational reasons\" it does make me wonder how we are going to cope with the loss of skilled workers, and perhaps more importantly the loss of knowledge these people will take with them to their new roles and positions. Will we see more stringent Intellectual Property clauses being written into contracts? Will we see more instances of theft of Intellectual Property or \"sacked\" employees being courted by the opposition for the insider knowledge they carry with them when they walk out of the door for the last time? And will these people be more willing to divulge that information if they feel they have been unfairly treated?
Information Overload - Issue 45 - May 2006 - Information Management - Open access 29th May 2006 [pdf 38.15 kb]
The use of technology and in particular the development and use of the Internet has connected more people to more resources since humankind invented the other great communicators, namely the telephone, telegraph, printing presses and television. Our problem does not lie with where to find information, rather how to sift through the bias, hearsay, personal opinion and fiction to the real facts! As more and more information comes online, the problem of finding the right information at the right time becomes more problematic. Are we heading for a society of the information rich and the information poor, or has this information divide always existed? This month we have a look at the use of the Internet to deliver valuable information; free of charge and the impact this may well have on a number of professions and industries.
Information Overload - Issue 44 - April 2006 - Employment Matters - Continuing professional development (CPD) 26th Apr 2006 [pdf 30.85 kb]
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) - How do you find time to undertake CPD on top of your normal working and home life commitments? Or are you simply too busy "working" to undertake CPD?
Information Overload - Issue 43 - March 2006 - Information Management - Information security 24th Mar 2006 [pdf 30.36 kb]
The safety of information, in particular electronic information in today's predominantly electronic environment is discussed. With the ever increasing number of pieces of malicious software (malware) doing the rounds, do you need to play host to unfriendly people (insiders) within your organisation so they can gain access to your information, or are there other more serious problems facing organisations today? As is the case with Information Overload we can only scratch the surface of this fascinating topic and we may not be able to offer solutions as to how to deal with the many problems faced by organisations every day, but we will give it a go.
Information Overload - Issue 42 - February 2006 - Electronic Archiving - Link failure syndrome and archiving issues 24th Feb 2006 [pdf 27.98 kb]
Link Failure Syndrome and its impact on the information community, especially when looking at archiving electronic information.
Information Overload - Issue 41 - January 2006 - Information Management Issues - EDRMS (Electronic Document and Records Management Systems) 26th Jan 2006 [pdf 39.56 kb]
Why do we have to keep business records anyway? · Standards and Benchmarks · So which system do you use? · Notes · A Thought to ponder.
Information Overload - Issue 40 - December 2005 - Employment Matters - Outsourcing 21st Dec 2005 [pdf 27.24 kb]
Outsourcing jobs and functions. How to get the best out of your temps. contract staff and casual employees.
Information Overload - Issue 39 - November 2005 - Employment Matters - Managing absenteeism 24th Nov 2005 [pdf 36.86 kb]
Absenteeism can be a major cost issue for an organisation. Is it just the bottom line that suffers, or are there other issues to consider?
Information Overload - Issue 38 - October 2005 - Training Services - Online training vs. face-to-face 26th Oct 2005 [pdf 29.33 kb]
How important is training? What are the preferred methods of delivery and how has technology has changed the way that we can gain the knowledge and skills that we need to do the jobs that we do?
Information Overload - Issue 37 - September 2005 - Information Management - How safe is your data? 21st Sep 2005 [pdf 42.25 kb]
How safe is your data? With the recent devastation caused by Hurricanes, Cyclones and flooding – disaster planning and disaster management should be high on everyone's \"to do\" list. Do you know what vital records your organisation has; do you know where they are? And will you be able to access them should the unthinkable happen to your place of work. What about the safety of your electronic data? Is your system hacker proof, or do you have glaring holes in your security systems, practices and procedures? How good are your backup procedures – Do you have a backup procedure?
Information Overload - Issue 36 - August 2005 - Employment Matters - Corporate culture 18th Aug 2005 [pdf 29.18 kb]
Information Overload takes a look at your workplace. Do we take the workplace for granted? And ask, to what extent are we, the jobs that we do and the results that we achieve affected by corporate culture.
Information Overload - Issue 35 - July 2005 - Information Management - Retention, storage and disposal of paper based records 26th Jul 2005 [pdf 30.95 kb]
Welcome to this month's edition of Information Overload. This month we discuss document retention and disposal, where do you store those bits of paper you think you need to keep, and those documents and files your accountant said you should keep for a couple of years – now did he say five years, or was it seven?
Information Overload - Issue 34 - June 2005 - Web 2.0 - Networks 23rd Jun 2005 [pdf 28.74 kb]
In this issue of Information Overload we discuss networking, but we are not just talking about going to the next industry event, branch meeting or conference, but how we really stay connected to what is happening in our professional and even personal lives, and the impact that technology is having on our ability to do so.
Information Overload - Issue 33 - May 2005 - Information Management - The importance of filing 26th May 2005 [pdf 29.39 kb]
The importance of filing, and how poor records management practices can lead to identity theft.
Information Overload - Issue 32 - April 2005 - Employment matters 22nd Apr 2005 [pdf 33.40 kb]
As a follow up to last months newsletter on the nations skills shortage, otherwise known as \"where are all the good people?\" The answer to that one is of course \"working\", we take a look at some of the dilemmas organisations face as they try and find the best person(s) for the job on offer, and ask the question – is finding someone who best fits the organisational culture a form of discrimination in and of itself? We also take a look at the other side and what candidates should do as they search and maybe find that perfect job. As an employment agency looking after the needs of both employers and employees (as well as fixed-term contract positions), we are fortunate to see both sides of the employment process, making sure the needs and requirements of the employer are matched to the skills and abilities of the candidates, which can be a time consuming and often interesting process.
Information Overload - Issue 31 - March 2005 - Employment Matters - Skills shortages - what skills shortages? 24th Mar 2005 [pdf 35.28 kb]
Today we add our voice to the discussion regarding a national skills shortage, and what we can do as a nation to overcome the perceived problems this is going to have on our country and our economy. Information Enterprises Australia (IEA) has not been immune to the problem of demand far outweighing ability to supply. As people take on full time work, change states and countries, go back to full time study, leave the profession through retirement, pregnancy and ill health, we sometimes struggle to find people willing to undertake fixed-term contract work. And we are not alone in the hunt for qualified people either. So this month we join in the discussion on finding and retaining qualified employees and offer some suggestions as to what we can do to ease the burden in the future as we see the \\"baby boomers\\" retire.
Information Overload - Issue 30 - February 2005 - Employment Matters - Health, wealth and happiness 18th Feb 2005 [pdf 28.10 kb]
· Are longer hours at work productive? · Corporate Health Programs: An essential part of your package, or just nice to have? · New Year hangovers cloud 2005 · A Thought to Ponder.
Information Overload - Issue 29 - January 2005 - Information Management - Disaster planning 20th Jan 2005 [pdf 26.72 kb]
With the recent global disasters that have affected so many people across the world, the bush fires raging across Australia, and people being evacuated from their homes it is perhaps an appropriate time to ask the question. Do you know what you would take with you, if you only had a few minutes to get out of your house? What would you leave behind? Would you take pictures and photographs, your computer? Or the tools of your trade? What about family heirlooms, clothes and special toys for the kids? What about people and pets? For those people who have dogs and cats its relatively easy to scoop them up and put them into the car, but what about those people who have birds and livestock such as horses and chickens? Do you leave them to their fate and hope they are still there when you are allowed back to your property? Or do you set them free and hope they don't get in the way of the rescue effort? This month we take a look at disaster planning and suggestions for putting together a disaster plan for your organisation.
Information Overload - Issue 28 - December 2004 - Employment Matters - Blowing the whistle 20th Dec 2004 [pdf 29.15 kb]
In the last issue for 2004, we have decided to look at the subject of "whistle blowing". For those train spotters and sports coaches out there, I am going to have to disappoint you I am afraid, in the case of this newsletter a "whistleblower is someone in an organization who witnesses behavior by members that is either contrary to the mission of the organization, or threatening to the public interest, and who decides to speak out publicly about it (definition taken from - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistle-blowing)."
Information Overload - Issue 27 - November 2004 - Employment Matters - Succession planning 25th Nov 2004 [pdf 33.74 kb]
This month's edition of Information Overload looks at the topic of Succession Planning. If you have ever wondered what will happen to your business, or the business you work for should the unthinkable happen, then this topic should interest you
Information Overload - Issue 26 - October 2004 - Information Management - Emails are records too! 18th Oct 2004 [pdf 34.98 kb]
We are going to go back to basics and discuss the subject – Emails are records too!
Information Overload - Issue 25 - September 2004 - Employment Matters - How healthy are you? 17th Sep 2004 [pdf 40.40 kb]
This month we will be asking how healthy are you and does this have an impact on the organisation that you work for? We take a look at what is perhaps one of the biggest hazards in today's working environment, and what we can all do to eliminate and control the problem.
Information Overload - Issue 24 - August 2004 - Information Management - Ethics in an online world 19th Aug 2004 [pdf 31.69 kb]
This month we will be looking at the issue of ethics in an online world. And in particular what do you do when you come across documents that you know should not be viewable in an open environment but are?
Information Overload - Issue 23 - July 2004 - Information Management - Corporate governance 22nd Jul 2004 [pdf 35.14 kb]
This month we will be looking at the issues surrounding "Corporate Governance." We take another look at the issues surrounding the collapse of Enron and other organisations and the lessons that can be learned.
Information Overload - Issue 22 - June 2004 - Employment Matters - Doing more with less 23rd Jun 2004 [pdf 40.45 kb]
This month we will be looking at the problem of "doing more with less". I am of course referring to things like not having enough money to buy all the books and journals you need, to having to make do with the equipment that you have because there isn't any additional funds going around to replace old and outdated equipment, or upgrading the software you use on a daily basis. But we will also be looking at the problems of staffing – how do you cope when people are away sick or on annual leave, what happens when someone leaves and isn't replaced straight away, or when the unthinkable happens and your organisation restructures. Is it a case of re-grouping, tightening ones belts and carrying on regardless or do we chuck in the towel and get another job ourselves?
Information Overload - Issue 21 - May 2004 - Employment Matters - Age discrimination 26th May 2004 [pdf 31.20 kb]
Today we are going to be adding our voice to the debate on age discrimination. For those of you who have been following the news of late, this has become a contentious issue as Australia's Prime Minister John Howard reaches retirement age. Whilst we will not be asking if Mr Howard should retire and let someone else take over the running of the country, we will be looking at the very real problems facing our ageing population as well as issues surrounding our new generation of workers and the impact that redundancies has on everyone.
Information Overload - Issue 20 - April 2004 - Web 2.0 - Searching and search engine optimisation 12th Apr 2004 [pdf 36.83 kb]
We are looking at the issues surrounding the use of the Internet as a search tool.
Information Overload - Issue 19.1 - May 2004 - Information Management - Follow up to white paper on electronic archiving 27th May 2004 [pdf 26.54 kb]
The subject of electronic archiving continues to dominate the discussion boards and list servs, and will continue to do so until such time as a definitive answer is found. We have taken the decision to issue a follow up to the electronic archiving discussion paper that was issued in March of this year. I would personally like to say a very big thank you to everyone who took the time to comment on the newsletter, whilst we haven't used every comment we have chosen those which we feel expand on the issues raised in the original piece – please note - names have been withheld to protect the innocent. You may wonder why we have issued the newsletter out of sequence and out of synch with the normal publishing schedule – well to be honest we have some interesting issues coming up and we didn't want to delay any of the topics any more than we have to.
Information Overload - Issue 19 - March 2004 - Information Management - White paper on electronic archiving 23rd Mar 2004 [pdf 67.90 kb]
From the archive - Electronic Archiving: A Discussion. Given the many discussions going on in the listservs in recent times IEA decided to re-release the white paper they wrote on Electronic (Digital) Archiving.
Information Overload - Issue 18 - February 2004 - Employment Matters - Casuals vs. Employees 20th Feb 2004 [pdf 24.97 kb]
The problem with trying to maintain services caused by staff shortages through a myriad of causes, eg., sick leave and holidays, or people who are under pressure because of deadlines or special projects that have them wondering if and when they are going to get home of an evening because of the work load. So this month's edition we will be focusing on the use of contract staff as a way of solving (at least temporarily) some of these problems. We will also be looking at the move towards a more casualisation of our workforce and the various industry bodies and government measures to try and ensure a fair and equitable system for employers and contractors alike.
Information Overload - Issue 17 - January 2004 - Information Managment - Knowledge management 19th Jan 2004 [pdf 24.89 kb]
This month's issue we will be looking at Knowledge Management, is it a fad, or is it here to stay, and the skills you need to have in order to become a knowledge manager in today's information hungry world. And you thought I was going to talk about goal setting didn't you. Well actually I am. The beginning of a new year is always a good time to plan our projects and work loads. This of course is as true for home and personal matters as it is for work related ones. Most people take the time to set new year's resolutions – lose weight, exercise more, catch up with friends more often, do more professional development and so on. Some people take time to work out what it is they want to achieve during their working year, but a lot of people don't, and because they don't have a set of clearly defined written goals and objectives they don't know where they want to go, or how they are going to get there. What has this got to do with knowledge management? Actually it has a lot to do with knowledge management. Over the course of the next couple of years we will see the baby boomers start to retire. The question is do you have the necessary skills that you will need to take their place? Do you know what skills you need to have? Do you know how long it will take you to acquire them? We have a look at one organisations' suggestions for what skills a knowledge manager should have, and we ask the question – will you be ready when opportunity knocks? Or are you content to do the same things in the same way and still expect a different result?
Information Overload - Issue 16 - December 2003 - Employment Matters - Drug and alcohol policies 10th Dec 2003 [pdf 24.03 kb]
The end of another year, it is a time of reflection, of celebrating achievements and planning the projects for the New Year. It is also a time for the traditional work Christmas lunches and evening social gatherings. It is also a good time for us to look at the issues surrounding the provision or not of alcohol to attendees, and the occupational health and safety issues surrounding the provision of alcohol at work, and during work time. We will also be looking at the interesting subject of drug and alcohol testing. Is it an invasion of privacy, or a justified stance on occupational health and safety grounds?
Information Overload - Issue 15 - November 2003 - Employment Matters - Manager or leader? 26th Nov 2003 [pdf 23.09 kb]
Are you a Manager or a Leader? Can you be both an effective manager and a leader at the same time? Or is it a case of \\"never the twain shall meet?\\" We will be looking at the issues surrounding this very interesting topic.
Information Overload - Issue 14 - October 2003 - Employment Matters - Discrimination 23rd Oct 2003 [pdf 23.54 kb]
Ageism, Sexism, Racism, Sizeism, Dress, Glass Ceilings, Religion, Skin Colour as well as language, accents, workers compensation claims, convictions, sexual preferences, illness and disabilities are all forms of discrimination that can and do still occur in workplaces across the world. Discrimination can be described as \\"unfair treatment of a person, racial group, minority etc\\" and is any action that is based on prejudice. This can include actions such as harassment and bullying. Then there are the extremes of discrimination ranging from those people who bear the brunt of the endless rounds of \\"jokes\\" that permeate through workplaces, organisations and groups in general. Who hasn't heard (or told) a \\"blonde\\" joke for instance? to those people at the other end of the scale who wage war on others, killing fellow human beings because of (amongst other things) religious beliefs. We are aware that this subject is a huge one, and we don't have the space to cover a lot of the issues in great depth in a single issue, therefore it is our intention to re-visit sections of this interesting subject in later editions.
Information Overload - Issue 13 - September 2003 - Library Management - Marketing of library and information services 24th Sep 2003 [pdf 23.52 kb]
As promised this month we will be looking at the very interesting subject of marketing of library and information services. Otherwise entitled \\\"how to provide more services with less money!\\\" Actually there are two aspects to this month's newsletter; the first as I have said is the marketing of the service in which we work. The other side of the coin is how we can effectively market ourselves. Whilst it can be argued that the two should go hand in hand, in reality the two don't always go together.
Information Overload - Issue 12 - August 2003 - Information Management - The impact of the State Records Act and accountability in record keeping 25th Sep 2003 [pdf 29.60 kb]
If the words 7th March 2004 strike a chord of panic then you are one of those agencies who have not yet managed to submit your draft record-keeping plan to the State Records Office. To the rest of our readers, the words March 2004 may mean very little, and I would like to apologise to all our overseas readers and readers from the other states and territories within Australia if we focus this edition on a subject that may have little interest or relevance to you. But with March 2004 fast approaching and WA government agencies running out of time to produce their record keeping plans, the team at IEA decided that perhaps the subject needed to be raised and debated once again.
Information Overload - Issue 11 - July 2003 - Employment Matters - Workplace etiquette 2 21st Jul 2003 [pdf 23.45 kb]
In this month's issue we will be continuing our look at \\"Workplace Etiquette\\" and how it impacts on the work that we do, and the relationships we have with our customers. Our customers can be either internal (other staff members) or external (the general public, suppliers or service providers). The quality of these relationships and therefore their experience that they have of us, the level of service that they receive, and their desire to re-use our services is directly related to the quality of our own personal views on workplace etiquette as well as the etiquette of the organisations in which we work.
Information Overload - Issue 10 - June 2003 - Employment Matters - Workplace etiquette - presenteeism 23rd Jun 2003 [pdf 21.61 kb]
Today we will be looking at one aspect of \\"Workplace Etiquette\\". Whilst this may sound like trying to remember which fork to use at a business lunch, or that it's all about common sense and good manners, there is a whole lot more to workplace etiquette than that. In fact, workplace etiquette plays a huge part in all your day-to-day activities, and is concerned with having an established set of structured principles and philosophies by which you can operate confidently and consistently across your professional platform. The subject of etiquette in the workplace is considerable, and one that cannot be covered by a single issue of the newsletter; well not if we want to do justice to the subject matter at any rate. So over the next few editions we will be looking at a number of significant areas of workplace etiquette including the misuse of company property, working in an open plan environment, bullying, sexual harassment and other hazards in the workplace, problems of office politics and the art of communication. Today's issue looks at \\"presenteeism\\" and what we can all do to avoid this very real problem.
Information Overload - Issue 9 - May 2003 - Employment Matters - Customer service 12th May 2003 [pdf 21.70 kb]
We all know when we have been subjected to both good and bad customer service, but what does customer service actually mean? And how can we ensure that the organisations that we work for do not foster a culture of poor customer service. What simple things can everyone do to ensure that doing business does not disadvantage anyone?
Information Overload - Issue 8 - April 2003 - Employment Matters - Teamwork 15th Apr 2003 [pdf 20.97 kb]
We will be looking at the issue of teamwork, and why it is so important for organisations to foster a team spirit if they truly want to succeed in today's business driven, accountable world. We will also be looking at the problems facing temporary or contract staff as well as One Person Librarian's (OPaL's), traditionally these groups have been regarded as being isolated from the traditional concept of a team environment, and what they can do to change this stereotype.
Information Overload - Issue 7 - March 2003 - Employment Matters - Dealing with difficult behaviour 14th Mar 2002 [pdf 22.96 kb]
When was the last time you had a bad day? Did you find yourself saying or doing something that you know you shouldn't have, but did it anyway. Fortunately for most of us, those days are few and far between, but what happens when you are on the receiving end of someone else's bad temper, how do you cope? Everywhere you look, there is ample evidence of it, road rage, slamming doors, people yelling at one another, suffering unreasonable behaviour from work colleagues and of course, for those of us who work in the customer service industry, dealing with the general public can be extremely demanding and stressful. So how do you cope with it, and just as importantly when we are having a bad day, how do you make sure you don't \\"take it out on\\" your family, friends and colleagues? In this months newsletter we will be looking at some of the issues regarding how to deal with difficult behaviour. How to recognise the triggers and what you can do to make sure their bad day doesn't become yours.
Information Overload - Issue 6 - February 2003 - Information Management - Compliant records management systems 20th Feb 2003 [pdf 25.48 kb]
There has been a lot of emphasis on compliant record keeping systems in recent months, with the emphasis perhaps on those organisations who have failed, rather than those who do have a compliant system. The failure of giants such as Enron, HIH, Andersens and BAT because of various reasons including poor record keeping practices, might sell a lot of newspapers, and has brought record keeping to the forefront of people's minds. The deadline for WA State Government Departments to write, present and have approval for their record keeping plans by the State Records Office looms ever closer, we thought that you might appreciate a few pointers as to where information on compliant record management systems can be found.
Information Overload - Issue 5 - January 2003 - Informaiton Management - Storage mediums 20th Jan 2003 [pdf 25.80 kb]
We will be looking at the various storage mediums on offer that will assist you cope with the storage revolution. ·Scary Stuff ·Formats to Emulate ·Libraries aren't immune ·Records Storage guidelines available ·The Life and Times ·A Thought to Ponder
Information Overload - Issue 4 - December 2002 - Information Management - Calculating space requirements 12th Dec 2002 [pdf 18.84 kb]
Most people these days think of storage space in terms of gigabytes and terabytes as organisations struggle to cope with the mountain of electronic data that is whisked into the ether every time the save button is depressed, or the sent button is activated. We repeatedly hear that data storage requirements double each year, and the number of e-mails sent by the end of 2002 is a figure so great it defies understanding. But what about the vast forests of paper that has been stuck in the storerooms and filing cabinets for years and is still growing by a tree or two a day as staff print out every document and email ever sent or received. Lets face it, conversion to electronic images via scanning is probably not the answer for the majority of it, given its natural and legal lifespan, so what are you going to do with it all? Lets face it, the truly paperless office is still a long way off, especially given the laws relating to evidence, and the fun and games of version control, electronic signaturing technology, problems with electronic archiving and migration from one system to another. So how do you work out your current and future shelf and storage requirements for it all? Well, in this months issue we will try and answer some of those questions.
Information Overload - Issue 3 - November 2002 - Information Management - Security of information 20th Nov 2002 [pdf 253.62 kb]
This month's issue deals with data security, how you can protect your organisation from the threats of viruses, worms, Trojans and other e-nasties. As well as looking at disaster planning. This is a huge area of concern for all organisations and we know that we have just scratched the surface and will return to the issue periodically to keep you updated.
Information Overload - Issue 2 - October 2002 - Training 22nd Oct 2002 [pdf 291.09 kb]
We will be looking at training, professional development and further education in the work place. And are they one and the same? · Training! What Training? · Did You Know · 10 Reasons to Invest in Training. · A Thought to Ponder
Information Overload - Issue 1 - September 2002 - Employment Matters - Occupational Health and Safety 13th Sep 2002 [pdf 277.09 kb]
We will be looking at the problems associated with Occupational Health & Safety in the workplace including; · Inductions for all contractors; · Who would have thought it - Why public library staff were harassed; · Is work a pain in the neck? · Frequently asked questions.