Beyond Keywords to the Valuable Professional: Essential to Business Decisions

February 1, 2012

The write-up “Can Search Replace the Perfect Secretary?” is a bit older but is still worth some reflection. Critical business decisions are being made without proper time, reflection, or even the correct data in hand.

The write-up provides a reflection on several reports related to the importance of finding information for business decisions. In a report by the Economic Intelligence Unit one very significant reiterated the importance of the need to find the right data in a timely fashion.

Almost half the businesses surveyed for the Economist Intelligence Unit report Game Changer say that the complexity of the environments in which they operate have forced them to extend decision making times over the past five years, with only about a fifth saying that times have fallen. They’re reasonably confident about collecting and analysing data, but much less comfortable when it comes to making decisions based on it.

In short, so much information exists that it hard to trust that the “right” information has been located and thus a decision takes more time. Most knowledge workers can search within the enterprise but it is not efficient searching and it may not be the most accurate.  And while the promise of “keyword” searching is grand, the more valuable investment is that of a knowledgeable information professional.

Constance Ard, February 1, 2012

1 Comment | Business, Information Management, Information Professionals, Search, Strategic Planning | Permalink
Posted by Answer Maven

The Argument for Content Not Containers: EBooks Get a Challenge

January 30, 2012

Sarah Glassmeyer continues to prove herself a thought leader in the world of librarianship. In a recent post from CALI.org we see her views on “The Enhanced Book”.

She takes the discussion about eBooks to a broader view with her move away from pros and cons and into the world of possibilities. I too taught content not container in the old days of my law firm service so her message resounded.  I do think that the methods taught within print created better researchers because the framework was defined.

Often today’s electronic researchers are limited because they think about keywords and miss methods that could open up new avenues of content discovery.  If publishers take up Glassmeyer’s challenge and “up their game” in production the possibilities will continue to grow.

And until most traditional publishers – both mass market and legal – up their game when it comes to producing ebooks, this debate isn’t going to end any time soon.

The eBook challenge is about ownership, sharing and consumption. The container offers broad scholarship and research opportunities. From an information management perspective, understanding restrictions, limits and abilities is most definitely a service that information professionals can use to add value to their institution.

Constance Ard, January 30, 2012

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As Google Goes, So Goes the World: Relevance in Search Loses Ground

January 12, 2012

In Wired’s With Search+, Google Fires Another Shot at Facebook, the author unwittingly summarizes the reason for the play.

The desire to displace Facebook leaves Google scrambling for plays that will allow them to become the “social” space and drive the growth of their business. Those in the know understand that their business is not search.

Thus I find inaccuracy in the following statement by the author:

Launched Tuesday, Google’s new Search+ initiative integrates results culled from your Google+ social network connections into Google search queries, a major step into providing relevant social content into the company’s namesake product.

Doing a search for myself this morning, I find that the relevant information that I would desire was driven down the page of results by “social” results.  As an information professional I see this latest play by Google as an indication that relevance for the average user is now being defined by Google Search, not relevant information.

So Google+, social search, and Google are making great strides to promote their business but the notion that these results are relevant are laughable to a serious seeker of information.   I shall laugh my way to more effective search engines such as  Yandex, duckduckgo and even Bing.

Constance Ard, January 12, 2012

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Knowledge Economy Information Professionals Should Market Value – Not Skills

January 6, 2012

“Content Curation for Marketing” on the Slaw blog certainly gave me food for thought this morning. (Hat Tip to Nina Platt’s Law Librarian Daily Digest for the alert.) After months of being immersed in research about value and relevancy in today’s knowledge economy I have an affinity for new roles for the information professional.

Today’s information explosion certainly makes it plausible for information professionals to have an expanded role in today’s information rich work environments.

Colman offers a great summary of the session and some lessons learned through her own trial of aggregation tools.  She cautions that:

Content curation, whether used for internal or external purposes, is a very effective way to filter through the enormous amount of information that is being published on a daily basis. It helps you distinguish the signal from the noise.

Content curation is not a new role for information professionals.  Since time eternal the role of finding, organizing and distributing information has been a central function. It is the value gained by the activities that needs to be emphasized in today’s competitive environment. Without understanding the contributions they are making to the overall process and products of their requestor, information professionals are missing opportunities. So know the value of the skills and market that to maintain a competitive edge in today’s knowledge economy.

Constance Ard, January 6, 2012

Leave a Comment » | Information Management, Information Professionals, Knowledge Management, Value | Permalink
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Multitasking Is a Devil: Concentration and Focus Are Important to Productivity

January 3, 2012

In recent years it seems that multitasking with a multitude of electronic devices is the key to productivity, at least per some. This New York Times article sets the stage for a transformative thought pattern that I can get behind.  In “The Year of Multitasker’s Revenge”  Phyllis Korkki discusses the impact that electronic devices and apps have had on today’s worker.

Of note, and I love the opportunity that is presented with this observation, is the need for more training. I think training information workers especially offers information professionals a new venue for offering valuable services.  The article also points out the impact of that multitasking has in today’s challenging economy and the rise of independent workers and the trend of unemployment are significant factors to consider.

I think the most notable offering in this article is the statement about the benefit of boundaries.

More workers will probably revolt against the idea that they must be “on” all the time, recognizing that both their work and personal lives will improve if they create stricter boundaries. Sometimes this expectation is self-imposed; at other times, it’s part of the corporate culture.

I think that for companies to be productive, innovative and capable they must understand the need for workers to dedicate time to think, plan, strategize and focus.  With that, rather than devices and constant connectivity, comes the opportunity to improve.

Constance Ard, January 3, 2012

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Information Audit Meets Talent and Possibility Audit

December 13, 2011

I just recently finished drafting the text of my upcoming study from the Ark Group, Adding Value to Corporate Libraries and Information Services. I’m excited because I had  great input from various information experts such as Ulla de Stricker, Beth Maser, Connie Crosby, and so many more. (Yes this is a tease.) One of the things I determined as I wrote the book was that not only are information audits critical in corporate libraries but so too are talent audits.

Understanding the talents, interests and abilities of the information professional’s staff affords a world of possible new services, or at the very least, new and better ways to do those core functions that are so important to an organization’s ability to use information effectively.

So I encourage you to create an opportunity to assess the  possibilities that  will benefit your organization and inspire your staff.  Challenges are a great way to boost morale and employee engagement.  And new possibilities delivered by current staff, that is a definitely path to adding value.

Constance Ard, December 13, 2011

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Taxonomy: It Just Isn’t Easy

November 17, 2011

I was intrigued to read a post over at TaxoDairy, a blog hosted by my friends at Access Innovations. “One Size Fits All Taxonomies” caught my attention because I’m a firm believer that all taxonomies, especially those at the enterprise level, need custom fits. Then I realized that the author was really calling into question WAND Inc.’s behemeth solution to taxonomies.

Many of the companies I work with are so small that the great and accurate work that can be done by Access Innovations isn’t the best answer. As the author explains:

Pre-set taxonomies and automated classification and tagging can be tempting, but as we all know, cookie cutter indexing isn’t comprehensive.

I totally agree that cookie cutter indexing has its flaws. However, after having created several custom taxonomies, I see the joy of a machine assisted taxonomies.  I think the blend of human and computer can work in the right environment.

Constance Ard November 17, 2011

Leave a Comment » | Business, Information Management, Information Professionals, Taxonomy | Permalink
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Social Media Meets Intelligence Analysts aka Librarians

November 15, 2011

It’s hard not to take the opportunity to discuss the recent AP Exclusive: CIA Tracks Revolt by Tweet, Facebook. Librarians have hooked this live fish and held it up as the prize winner. And I agree this is a great example of the power of librarians.

I want to take a step back and talk about why the work that this particular team is important.

1) Open Source Content Through Social Media

Focusing on the wealth of information made available through Twitter and Facebook truly takes an expert because they have to be able to sift out the garbage effectively.  And while software can help it takes the human analyst to make a proper and accurate interpretation.

2) It’s not just th information skills that matter.

The article focused on the necessity to be proficient in foreign languages too.  Again geotagging could be helpful but its unreliable. In addition, it takes the human element to discern connotations in language.

3) It’s the complete picture analysis that matters.

Without context gathered from additional open source items such as news stories, the lone tweet is not useful.

From Arabic to Mandarin, from an angry tweet to a thoughtful blog, the analysts gather the information, often in a native tongue. They cross-reference it with a local newspaper or a clandestinely intercepted phone conversation. From there, they build a picture sought by the highest levels at the White House. There might be a real-time peek, for example, at the mood of a region after the Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden, or perhaps a prediction of which Mideast nation seems ripe for revolt.

It is encouraging to note that the director, Doug Naquin of the center is confident that the team ” will find a way to adapt, as the enemy does.”

Constance Ard November 15, 2011

Leave a Comment » | Information Management, Information Professionals, Search | Permalink
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Librarians, Metadata Specialists, and Taxonomist Oh My

November 8, 2011

There has been a bit of discussion about librarians and the role they play in taxonomy and meta data. Some good some bad.  In Taxonomy and Metadata and Findability Influence Traditional Roles a good argument is made as to why librarians are important to these information activities.

The use of content management systems to store data makes metadata and taxonomies important to improved findability.  Information scientists are well suited to creating the organization for these systems.

With so many different systems to find information, it will be important for systems to talk to each other. In terms of taxonomies, information scientists can even get into building ontologies and using these to build relationships between different taxonomies.

It’s good to hear sensible explanations of why librarians are important in today’s information economy. Jeff Carr got it wrong in his discussion of Five Myths about Taxonomy and Sharepoint blog post. Librarians are the right people to build the access indexes in today’s information rich environment.

Constance Ard November 8, 2011

Leave a Comment » | Information Management, Information Professionals, Taxonomy | Permalink
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Emerging from the Masses: Create Value by Standing Out

October 25, 2011

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting a law librarian who moved to the area from Washington D.C.  She contacted me to get an idea of the law library landscape in Louisville Ky.  Well, I’ve been out of the law firm world for over three yeas now, so I made sure I invited someone along that was in the field.  It was a fun lunch.

And an informative one. The questions our new friend asked, allowed me to reflect a bit on some of the good things I did in the land of law firm libraries.  My boss at the time was fantastic and encouraging when it came to finding new ways to demonstrate the value of the library.

So, I gave credit where it was due, and talked about a few of the simple things I did during my career that I think went a long ways toward not only demonstrating the value of library services but in actually adding value.

  • Hand deliver projects
  • Create Cover Sheets to Identify Your Product
  • Collaborate with Marketing

Simple steps that seemed revolutionary.  These additions allowed my service to emerge from the hidden library office to the hallways and conference rooms and the change was noticeable.

So if you are struggling to show why you are valuable, maybe you can reflect and see if something as simple as delivering a project in person can make a difference and allow you to emerge from the masses and be seen as a valuable asset.

Constance Ard October 24, 2011

Leave a Comment » | Information Professionals, legal research, Marketing, Professional Development | Permalink
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