Access to Information: A Cornerstone for Success

“The value of information increases as the number of users of that information increases” – Unknown

In the 21st Century, information has become a very powerful commodity – one that is needed and valued by powerful and successful organisations for effective decision-making, communication and survival [1]. Accurate, timely and relevant information can save organisations both time and money through increased efficiency, improved productivity and rapid deployment of innovations. Access to research and recent information allow organisations to benefit from the experience of others and avoid costly duplication of effort. Relevant and recent access to information yields both time and cost savings by improving decision-making, expediting solutions and avoiding unnecessary research.

While the benefits of access to information are substantial, the question is where and how to obtain the most accurate and relevant information timeously. More often than not, required information resides not within an organisation itself, but beyond its boundaries in the global world of information [2]. In July 2008, the Netcraft Web Server Survey found 175,480,931 distinct websites and indicated that the Web is growing monthly by approximately 3.14 million sites [3]. Within this environment, organisations struggle to find relevant and appropriate information.

For information users out there, the enormous amount of available information has become a real barrier to accessing, analysing and applying information. Many organisations have found that creating value in decision-making through obtaining, analysing and interpreting relevant information requires more than just access to the latest websites or software systems. Individuals who can access and analyse information as well as verify its accuracy, have become a valuable resource in obtaining required information.

Whilst larger organisations find it cost-effective to employ their own information specialists, many smaller organisations cannot afford it. Collaborating with organisations that already have the necessary information systems and human specialists in place may be beneficial. The value in collaborating with such organisations includes easing the finding and use of the most appropriate and completes sources of information.

As a private higher education institution, Regenesys Management established its own Research and Development Unit, including a fully functional Resource Centre to provide access to and analysis of information for the benefit of the organisation and its clients. Via a subject specific collection, inter-library loans and access to EBSCO, the Resource Centre provides information related to public and business topics to staff and learners.

Small enterprises in need of research and information assistance may utilise the services offered by the Regenesys Resource Centre. For a daily fee, the information specialists at Regenesys Management will search and obtain information that smaller organisations require for effective decision-making.

The goal of the Research and Development Unit of Regenesys is not only to provide supportive services, but also to help individuals to help themselves. A series of articles to assist individuals to search for, find and analyse information will be published in the forthcoming editions of the Regenesys Newsletter. Join us next time for an introduction on how to use Boolean Operators to improve your searching on the Web.

References:

[1] Fenner, a. 2002. Placing Value on information. Library Philosophy and Practice Vol 4, No 2. Available at: http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/fenner.html [accessed: 17 August 2008].

[2] Bates, M.E. 2002. Free, Fee-Based and Value-Added Information Services, Available at: http://factiva.com/collateral/files/whitepaper_feevsfree_032002.pdf [accessed: 17 August 2008].

[3] Netcraft, 2008. July 2008 web server survey. Available at: http://news.netcraft.com/archives/web_server_survey.html [accessed: 17 August 2008].

Famous Sayings. 2008. Available at: http://www.famous-sayings.net/2008/03/qoutes-sayings-value-of-information.html [accessed: 17 August 2008].

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