This article assesses the nonuse of scientific-technical information in energy research and development decision making and identifies major conditions and constraints that account for it. It is a study of the Coalcon project, the first federal attempt to demonstrate a synthetic fossil energy technology. The concepts of a failure of power and a failure of intelligence are used to explain the failure to use available technical information in the Coalcon decision. Consequences of crisis on an organization `s use of information are elaborated on.
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