define and explain information needs and information behaviour;
identify the information needs of managers, clinical and social care professionals, consumers and patients
describe and appraise examples of information user studies
consider how the organisation or work setting affects information behaviour and describe a systems approach to management and understanding of information and communication flows
identify and use techniques for analysing information needs and changes to information systems.
Brief description
Systems analysts often seek to assess information requirements of their users. Unfortunately, without an understanding of information behaviour, systems developed may not fully meet the users? needs although the information `required? may be supplied. Information behaviour encompasses how individuals express (or don'r express) possible information needs, the way they use information, their habitual information sources, as well as the setting in which the information is used and the roles of the information user (at work, in the home or with friends). In the module you will first study some examples of user groups, and the research evidence about their information behaviour. Unit 1 considers the information needs of managers, and Unit 2 the information needs of health and social care professionals. Unit 3 discusses the rise of the `informed consumer?. Unit 4 then reviews the theory and methodology of information user studies. Unit 5 introduces the systems approach to examining the information flows among people and groups in an organisation (and across organisations). Unit 6 explains and demonstrates some techniques (such as rich pictures, data flow diagrams and use case diagrams) that can be used to map information requirements and information flows
Reading Lists
Books ** Essential Reading
Avison and Shah (1997) The information systems development life cycle
Maidenhead, Berks: McGraw Hill
Avgerou, C and Cornford, T (1998) Developing information systems: concepts, issues and practice
2nd. Basingstoke: Macmillan
Vidgen, R, Avison D, Wood, B and Wood-Harper (2002) Developing Web information systems.
Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann
In addition the resouce pack for this module contains essential readings for each Unit.