Running Head: Project Assignment Week 72
Project Assignment Week 72
Project Assignment Week 7
HCI 360
Tae Hoon Kim
Bellevue College
As a business analyst in the Process Improvement office of a local hospital, I have been tasked with working on a new process improvement initiative to address the unmet information needs of healthcare practitioners. Reports indicate that healthcare practitioners are facing challenges in finding information, the quality of the information they do find is subpar, and they are unsure how to present the information in an easily understandable way.
The weekly material on information seeking and sense-making emphasizes the importance of resolving uncertainty. It has been highlighted that when an individual seeks information, they have a need that requires resolution. The information seeker must process the information and decide if it satisfies their need or if there is a gap. If there is a gap, the individual may need to search for further information, determine where to find the information, and verify its reliability.
It is essential to note that the decision-making process can be overwhelming due to the sheer volume of information available. This can lead to individuals giving up, not challenging the authenticity of the information received, or ignoring the facts of their medical situation. These behaviours can result in negative outcomes for healthcare practitioners and their patients.
The Information Seeking Behaviour, Top 8 Facts video provides insight into the various types of information-seeking behaviours, including directed, undirected, passive, and active. I believe that it is imperative for healthcare practitioners to understand their information-seeking behaviour to identify areas for improvement and achieve their information needs effectively.
Furthermore, the Information seeking behaviour, information models, and information seeking theories and sense-making video explains that there are three main information models: the objective model, the interpretive model, and the critical model. I recommend that healthcare practitioners in my organization should learn and understand these models to develop effective information-seeking strategies.
As abusiness analyst in the Process Improvement office, I recommend the development of training programs for healthcare practitioners to improve their information-seeking behaviour, promote the use of reliable sources of information, and provide guidance on how to present information in an easily understandable way. By doing so, I can contribute to the ongoing effort of enhancing the quality of care provided by our organization. Understanding that uncertainty, information gaps, information ignorance, and restrictions to access have a big impact on the outcomes of information seeking is crucial. There is a vast body of knowledge and research that is present and growing for those who wish to learn more.
References
Linn, A. (2012, September 16). Information seeking behaviour, top 8 facts [Video]. YouTube.
University of Michigan. (2011, October 24). Information seeking behaviour, information models, and information seeking theories and sense-making [Video]. YouTube.
