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An Investigation of Factors Affecting How Engineers and Scientists Seek InformationThis study investigated how 872 US aerospace scientists and engineers select information carriers. When considering oral and written information carriers, the principle of least effort was supported with a strong preference for oral communication over written communication. In examining how the respondents select written carriers, the decision to use or not to use a written carrier was found to be primarily a function of the perceived importance of the carrier's information to a person's work. Task uncertainty and task complexity were found to be significant, but not the primary nor a totally consistent criteria. The perceived quality and accessibility of written carriers were not found significant. The findings reinforce the need for firms to hire knowledgeable employees, to provide them with comprehensive training programs, and to develop formal and informal communication networks.
Document ID
20010069991
Acquisition Source
Langley Research Center
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Anderson, Claire J
(Old Dominion Univ. Norfolk, VA United States)
Glassman, Myron
(Old Dominion Univ. Norfolk, VA United States)
McAfee, R. Bruce
(Old Dominion Univ. Norfolk, VA United States)
Pinelli, Thomas
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA United States)
Date Acquired
August 20, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2001
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Engineering and Technology Management
Publisher: Elsevier Science B.V.
Volume: 18
ISSN: 0923-4748
Subject Category
Documentation And Information Science
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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