YOURNOTTYPICAL

INFORMATION

OVERLOAD PRESENTATION

BYCRAIG ROTH

SERVICE

JAMES ELLINGTON

TOO

ALL

OPERATE

BUSINESS

STRATEGYCAPTURE

WITH

CARREY

VALUEKNOWLEDGE

ORGANIZATION

All Contents © 2009 Craig Roth. All rights reserved.

• Quotes about how stressed “we” are• Basex quote: $900,000,000,000

(28%)• Timeline of information flows• Rhetorical questions• “What are we doing to

ourselves?”• Call to action

• Vague pronouncements• Specific menial recommendations• Time management tips

• Ironic self-referential observation about information overload in the room• Thank you!

What is the typical information overload presentation?

The Typical Information Overload Presentation in 3 Minutes

• Quotes about how stressed “we” are• Basex quote: $900,000,000,000

(28%)• Timeline of information flows• Rhetorical questions• “What are we doing to

ourselves?”• Call to action

• Vague pronouncements• Specific menial recommendations• Time management tips

• Ironic self-referential observation about information overload in the room• Thank you!

STOP

The Typical Information Overload Presentation in 3 Minutes

• Quotes about how stressed “we” are• Basex quote: $900,000,000,000

(28%)• Timeline of information flows• Rhetorical questions• “What are we doing to

ourselves?”• Call to action

• Vague pronouncements• Specific menial recommendations• Time management tips

• Ironic self-referential observation about information overload in the room• Thank you!

REWIND

The Typical Information Overload Presentation in 3 Minutes

What is overload?

What is non-overload?

What is this?

Beautiful. Ugly. Exciting. Numbing. Choice. Overload. Can’t find it. It’s at my fingertips. Won’t stop. Exists as flow. Headache.

Zack Shackleton

My workplace.

Today’s topic: Enterprise Attention Management

Presenter: Craig RothService Director and Senior

AnalystCollaboration and Content

StrategiesBurton Group

Enterprise Attention Management

• A counter-argument• A framing model• A conceptual architecture applied

through gap analysis

Price (in time)of messages

Quantityof messages

SupplyDemand

Info needed, but not supplied

Info supplied,

but not needed

Useful info

The “unknown unknowns”

Information overload

Information scarcity

Information undefined

Info needed, but not supplied

Info supplied,

but not needed

Useful info

The “unknown unknowns”

Information overload

Information scarcity

Information undefined

Information overload, scarcity, and undefined are all problems, but attacking any one in isolation

can have unintended consequences

Example of unintended consequences:The attack on interruptions

“Dr. Glenn Wilson, a psychiatrist at King's College London University, monitored the IQ of workers throughout the day. He found the IQ of those who tried to juggle messages and work fell by 10 points”

Friday, April 22, 2005

How to throw this experimentHave the people interrupting be really smart and calling with the answers!

But I feel overloaded! Everyone is overloaded!!

Information overload does occur

But, IO is the wrong narrative

Ask how to reap benefits and minimize risks

Focus on systemic change

Enterprise Attention Management

Enterprise Attention Management

• A counter-argument• A framing model• A conceptual architecture applied

through gap analysis

What is attention?

Oxford English Dictionary: “earnest direction of the mind”

For this purpose, attention ≠ action• Attention is a physiological and psychological

state• Using Attention as a proxy for action pulls in an

inordinate number of existing disciplines without adding value

• Concentrating on “how does one focus attention” rather “what should one focus attention on” yields a narrower, more actionable approach

Individual AMA method for gaining control / managing the messages coming in to an individual, thus focusing limited attention on the most desirable messages.

Enterprise AMA method for enterprises to improve the effectiveness of its information workers by providing culture, processes, and tools that improve control over the messages sent and received by its information workers.

Organizational AMAnthropomorphicizes organizations to apply individual AM concepts to corporations, government entities, and educational institutions.

Types of Attention Management

Information overload Enterprise Attention

ManagementTone

Negative Neutral

Cause Evolutionary maladaptation;

addiction; ADHD Poor decisions

Target Those who feel overloaded, convince

those who don’tThose interested in increasing

efficiency

CostBillions + and -

GoalEliminate (cut, stop) Increase efficiency

FocusFocus on the negative

and eliminate itMaximize the "information

balance sheet"

Same goods, different package?? No!

What is enterprise attention management?

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

QUESTION CONCERNS HOW A HERD HAS PERFORMED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME. COMPARING HERD'S PERFORMANCE WITH OTHER HERDS OF THE ONE MORE THING SAME BREED AND SIMILAR SIZES WITH THE SOUTHEAST. TO PAY ATTENTION TO EACH OF 43 MANAGEMENT PARAMETERS, THE CURRENT VALUES

FOR THE HERD ARE LISTED ALONG WITH THE MEAN, TOP 10% AND TOP 2% VALUES FOR REGIONAL HERDS AND INSPECTION AND TESTING OF PROCESSING OF FOODS OF ANIMAL ORIGIN ARE DAILY REPORTS TO CRAIG ROTH WITH ENTERPRISE ATTENTION MANAGEMENT; THE VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC CENTER , ANIMAL HEALTH

PROGRAMS, AND THE ADR MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION. VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC SUPPORT FOR WILDLIFE ALSO IS PROVIDED BY THE BINGHAMTON DIAGNOSTIC LABSBURTON. FROM MAY 5, 2008 LPH AS PERFORMED THESE TASKS WELL FOR MANY YEARS AND IS PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE WITH A NEW FACILITY AND

Here is an illustration of theconcept of attention management

How do you find the information you need in the abundance of content around you?

1. Pulling important messages forward makes them stand out from noise

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

How do you find the information you need in the abundance of content around you?

1. Pulling important messages forward makes them stand out from noise

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

Here is an illustration of theconcept of attention management

How do you find the information you need in the abundance of content around you?

1. Pulling important messages forward makes them stand out from noise

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

Here is an illustration of theconcept of attention management

How do you find the information you need in the abundance of content around you?

1. Pulling important messages forward makes them stand out from noise

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

Here is an illustration of theconcept of attention management

How do you find the information you need in the abundance of content around you?

1. Pulling important messages forward makes them stand out from noise

•Alerts•Personalization•Search (saved)•Social software

• Portals• RSS• Email and IM

rules

Technology for pulling forward: Processes for pulling forward:• Proactive reviews• “Canaries” (people that

note problems early)• KPI development

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

Here is an illustration of theconcept of attention management

How do you find the information you need in the abundance of content around you?

1. Pulling important messages forward makes them stand out from noise2. Pushing less important messages back makes key data easier to notice

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

Here is an illustration of theconcept of attention management

How do you find the information you need in the abundance of content around you?

1. Pulling important messages forward makes them stand out from noise2. Pushing less important messages back makes key data easier to notice

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

Here is an illustration of theconcept of attention management

How do you find the information you need in the abundance of content around you?

1. Pulling important messages forward makes them stand out from noise2. Pushing less important messages back makes key data easier to notice

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

Here is an illustration of theconcept of attention management

How do you find the information you need in the abundance of content around you?

1. Pulling important messages forward makes them stand out from noise2. Pushing less important messages back makes key data easier to notice

•Presence•Spam filters•Ring tones•Popup blocking

• Caller ID• ACD queuing• Email and IM

rules

Technology for attention shielding: Processes for pushing back:• Find quiet place• Clarify expectations

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

Here is an illustration of theconcept of attention management

How do you find the information you need in the abundance of content around you?

Pick your analogy:Increasing signal to noise

Separating wheat from chaffFinding the needle in the haystack

Mining for gold nuggets in a flow of silt

1. Pulling important messages forward makes them stand out from noise2. Pushing less important messages back makes key data easier to notice

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

Pick your analogy:Increasing signal to noise

Separating wheat from chaffFinding the needle in the haystack

Mining for gold nuggets in a flow of silt

1. Pulling important messages forward makes them stand out from noise2. Pushing less important messages back makes key data easier to notice

A REPORT THAT IS PRESENTED AT THE BEGINNING OF A DAIRY-FAX SESSION. A HERD PULLING TOWARDS ALPHA OF ALL THE MESSAGES FORWARD PROVIDES A SUMMARY. FOCUS ON ALL OF THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES THAT ONE CAN BY PUSHING DISCUSSION OF THE FILED MESSAGES BACK TO THE IMPACT STUDIES THAT FOCUS ON SAFER

Message

Full screen+grabs focus

Flashing /Popup

FrontPage

Inbox Storage(Folder /

Workspace)

SpamFolder Block

Here is how to apply this concept to desktop technology

Enterprise Attention Management

• A counter-argument• A framing model• A conceptual architecture applied

through gap analysis

“As one data point, a search for ‘Information Overload’ on Google returns 2.92 million results in 0.37 second.”

“Information Overload? Relax” , Wall St. Journal, 7.6.09

1,000,000

2,000,000

3,000,000

0

Whoops … you forgot to

use quotes … do you

want to include “iron

overload information”?

Major contributor to information overload: Not understanding how technology can help

or hinder users who need information

Is technology the answer? No.Can technology help? Yes.

Is technology the answer? No.Can technology help? Yes.

E-mailInbox

Default: Messages fire exactly as sent

E-mailInbox

Spam

News

Trash

Forum

Chili

SMS

Pulli

ng fo

rwar

dPu

shin

g ba

ck

Too bad these other options are ignored

E-mailInbox

Spam

News

Trash

Forum

Chili

SMS

The EAM conceptual architecture clarifies how

messages can be deflected

Applying the architecture to an attentional system yields a

comprehensive analysis of its attentional capabilities and gaps

Study: Patients often aren't told bad test resultsUSA Today (6.22.09)

“Doctors failed to inform patients of abnormal cancer screenings and other test results 1 out of 14 times ... Few medical practices had explicit methods for how to tell patients …Patients were told if they didn’t hear anything, they could assume their test results were normal.”

Enterprise Attention Management

• A counter-argument• A framing model• A conceptual architecture applied

through gap analysis

Conclusion

Enterprise Attention Management

• A counter-argument• Go through “info overload 101”• Take the good parts, reject the bad

• A framing model• A conceptual architecture applied

through gap analysis

Conclusion

Enterprise Attention Management

• A counter-argument• Go through “info overload 101”• Take the good parts, reject the bad

• A framing model• Reframe the issue as EAM• Conceptualize as pushing back and

pulling forward• A conceptual architecture applied

through gap analysis

Conclusion

Enterprise Attention Management

• A counter-argument• Go through “info overload 101”• Take the good parts, reject the bad

• A framing model• Reframe the issue as EAM• Conceptualize as pushing back and

pulling forward• A conceptual architecture applied

through gap analysis• Scope as organizational, systemic• Use the EAM architecture to

expose gaps and as intuition pump• Take lasting, systemic action on

process and technology

Conclusion

QUESTIONS?

Craig RothCollaboration and Content Strategiescroth@burtongroup.comhttp://knowledgeforward.wordpress.com

www.burtongroup.comAll Contents © 2009 Craig Roth. All rights reserved.