Consulting practicum (CP) is a form of experiential learning technique to prepare students for professional careers. While CP has become a popular way to help students acquire the essential practical skills and experience to enhance career readiness and ensure a smooth transition from college to employment, there is a lack of empirical studies…

Many current (online) help systems fail because users refuse to use them or, even if they do so, they do not perceive them as helpful. There is an obvious gap between the intentions of the help content authors and the achievement of objectives concerning the perceived usefulness by help users. Problems may be divided into psychological and…

Provides an overview of the facilities for management information in library management systems. Highlights include the relationship between transaction processing systems, management information systems, and decision support systems; a review of previous work; enquiries and standard reports relating to library operations; report generators; and…

Discussion of the strategic value of information technology in business activities focuses on the use of information and knowledge. Highlights include the role of information in value creation; information as a competitive factor; the company as a consumer of information; and methods necessary for the successful use of information. (eight…

Examines the growing trend toward and objectives of government outsourcing of information technology (IT) both in the United States and around the world. Describes representative outsourcing arrangements; highlights steps governments should take to ensure that objectives are met; and discusses factors influencing management of public sector…

Describes in detail the practice of information retrieval within business organizations based on 46 interviews. Highlights include the importance of text to the performance of information work rather than technical aspects of retrieval; information management; and information retrieval problems in organizations. (LRW)

Explains personal information management (PIM) systems and suggests a user-subjective approach to PIM system design. Advocates that PIM systems relate to the subjective value-added attributes that the user gives the stored data so that the user can find information again, recall it when needed, and use it effectively in the next interaction.…

Provides an introduction to DOS commands and strategies for the effective organization and use of hard disks. Functions discussed include the creation of directories and subdirectories, enhanced copying, the assignment of disk drives, and backing up the hard disk. (CLB)

Describes PC-Outline, a computer program from Brown Bag Software. Reports that this outlining program is useful in organizing information into trees, hierarchies, outlines, or categories. (MM)

The first of two articles describes ArchiText, a software package that allows the use of maps and multipaned windows within hypertext systems. The second describes version 2.0 of Guide, a hypertext-type program designed to be used on IBM and IBM compatible microcomputers. (CLB)

Strategic Information Systems Planning (SISP) is the process of establishing a program for implementation and use of information systems in ways that will optimize effectiveness of information resources and use them to support the objectives of the organization. Basic steps in SISP methodology are outlined. (JKP)

Demonstrates method for describing crime statistics reported in Uniform Crime Reports. Explains scaling model based on scaling of intelligence used in differential psychology and applies model to rescaling of reported crime occurrences in 76 U.S. cities. Examines crime quotients in relation to four structure characteristics of cities as example of…

This special section includes seven articles that discuss reinventing information services. Highlights include linking information services to business strategies; meeting client initiatives; information services at the Ottawa laboratory of Bell-Northern Research (BNR); product service strategies; information management and transition economies;…

Describes the Harvard Program on Information Resources Policy (PIRP) that studies how public policy and strategic corporate decisions affect information systems, including computer technologies; postal and mechanical transportation systems; information use by civilian and military organizations; effect of new technologies; international politics;…

Discusses the role of information in knowledge creation; distinguishes between individual and organizational knowledge; addresses the importance of an organizational learning culture. Recommends that managers use self-managed teams, understand organizations as socially flexible systems, and analyze knowledge from multiple perspectives. (Contains…