Scannin the Operational Environment: the librarian's role

Abstract

The growth of corporate planning has increased the need for scanning from documentary sources. This process provides a crucial information input to effective organizations of all sizes and types. Govcrnment and industry especially have a need for strategic information in decision making and this need is analysed. The paper continues by describing the alternative scanning modes and rules based on a model developed by F. J. Aguilar. ¹ The role of libraries and information specialists in this complex situation is considered and particularly the apparent underuse of their specialist skills by management. The paper concludes by suggesting that further studies, in an area regarded by the author as the most important single function carried out by a special library, should be initiated.

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