Dissertation Information for Patricia D. Fletcher NAME: - Patricia D. Fletcher
- (Alias) Patricia T. Fletcher - (Alias) Patricia Tobaka Fletcher
DEGREE:
- Ph.D.
DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science
SCHOOL:
- Syracuse University (USA) (1991)
ADVISORS: - Jeffrey H. Katzer
COMMITTEE MEMBERS: - None
MPACT Status: Incomplete - Inspected
Title: An examination of situational dimensions in the information behaviors of general managers
Abstract: At present, most information systems focus only on one aspect of an information need--that of subject matter. The dimension of subject matter is probably the most well known and most used for information retrieval. But subject matter represents only one aspect of an information user's problem situation, one aspect of the information need.
This study focuses on user-defined descriptions of situational dimensions. These situational dimensions include, but are broader than dimensions such as subject matter. A better understanding of a range of situational dimensions--the reflection of what users perceive as knowing--may also point to their information need, i.e., what they do not know.
The seminal work of MacMullin and Taylor (1984) was used as an orienting focus for this study. MacMullin and Taylor proposed a conceptually developed scheme of problem dimensions--characteristics beyond that of subject matter which may have potential in determining usefulness of information for a given problem situation.
The respondents were 26 upper-level managers in both the public and private sectors. The data were collected from personal interviews, utilizing a sense-making approach to problem situations. Based on respondent-generated perceptions of salient characteristics, a scheme consisting of 18 broad categories of situational dimensions, with 67 sub-categories was developed.
The situational dimensions were grouped into three components: part of the problem, part of the outcome, and part of the process, with most of the situational dimensions (55.1%) occurring as part of the problem. An interesting finding was the emergence of the interpersonal/emotional dimension, a characteristics suggested in the literature as being important to information behaviors.
Ten of the eleven problem dimensions proposed by MacMullin and Taylor were supported by the findings. Other findings were that (1) the situational dimensions changed for the respondents as they moved through their problem situations, and (2) there were both differences and similarities in the situational dimensions perceived by managers in the private and public sectors.
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MPACT Scores for Patricia D. Fletcher A = 1
C = 1
A+C = 2
T = 3
G = 2
W = 2
TD = 2
TA = 1
calculated 2010-05-22 14:30:47
Advisors and Advisees Graph
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