Training Information Management

Abstract

A behaviorally-oriented information management training program was designed to help information managers cope effectively and efficiently with large volumes of incoming information. The information management program was evaluated with a posttest-only control group design. Participants performed a situation assessment task by monitoring email traffic to assess an evolving situation and make reports to a commanding officer. As hypothesized participants receiving training were better able than controls to integrate the critical information in the messages and this was reflected in the quality of their situation assessments, which were superior to those of controls. Moreover, trained participants opened significantly higher percentage of critical and relevant messages and a smaller percentage of noncritical messages than controls. The information management training program was deemed a success.