How to Overcome Information Overload
Living in the Information Age has its advantages, but too
much information can be harmful. Learn about the causes and effects of
workplace information overload, as well as strategies for dealing with it.
What Is Information Overload?
The concept of information overload, also known as
infoxication, holds that having too much information impairs decision-making.
Due to people's limited processing capacity, having too much information can
have a negative impact on work performance by making it difficult to find or
focus on relevant information.
The phrase "information overload" first appeared
in Bertram Gross's book The Managing of Organizations in 1964. In his 1970 book
Future Shock, futurist Alvin Toffler expanded on the concept by identifying how
rapidly changing information affects decision-making. These works emerged in
the aftermath of major advances such as computers, but the concept of
information overload predates such technology”concern about excessive
information has arisen throughout history whenever new methodologies or formats
for sharing ideas emerged. With the invention of the printing press, for
example, information overload increased during the Renaissance.
We consume more information on a daily basis in the modern
Information Age because technology allows us to share, store, and learn massive
amounts of information in a short amount of time. On the one hand,
technological advancements such as computers, the internet, and digital
information systems make information more accessible than traditional
information architecture. On the other hand, easy access to limitless
information dilutes the amount of relevant information we consume. As a result,
we may become too overwhelmed to find the information we require.
What Factors Contribute to Information Overload?
There are several causes of information overload in our
lives and at work, including:
Excessive information: One of the primary causes of
information overload is the abundance of available information. Because anyone
can easily transmit and duplicate information over the internet, internet users
may exhaust their processing capacity simply by sifting through irrelevant or
false information.
Too many information channels: Constant notifications from
apps, social media platforms, emails, and other sources of information can
overwhelm you with more information than you can handle in a workday. Toggling
between platforms while also keeping up with other information channels such as
phone calls and video conferencing will most likely divert your attention in
too many directions to maintain a high level of work performance.
Inadequate project management: One of the primary causes of
information overload is an organization's inefficient information systems.
Coordination of information that flows between departments is an important part
of management because it keeps a team on track, filters out unnecessary
information, and streamlines information sharing and storage.
Information Overload's Negative Effects
People can suffer from infoxication in the following ways:
Burnout: Because infoxication leads to frustration,
uncertainty, and restlessness, multitasking across multiple channels and
sources of information can have a negative impact on physical and mental
well-being.
Information anxiety: This arises when you feel
pressured to keep up with all available information, despite the fact that this
is an impossible task.
Ineffective decision-making: When you take in more
information than your processing capacity, you have less mental energy to
reason, plan, and weigh the pros and cons of a decision. Instead of having
access to all information on a subject, decision-makers benefit from accurate
but constrained information.
How to Overcome Information Overload
Here are some strategies for overcoming information
overload:
Information management. When managing information, you must
decide which information needs to be addressed first and prioritized. To
eliminate unnecessary information, try using existing information technology
features, such as email and search engine filters.
Limit the amount of data gathered. Reduce the number of
information sources you use, the kinds of information you seek, and the time
you spend doing so in order to process information more effectively.
Transfer responsibility. When a team of people searches for
and handles different parts of the information, the process is most effective.
Let each team member be the go-to person for all information regarding one
particular issue, for instance.