ABSTRACT
Introduction Obtaining, organizing, and incorporating the necessary information for actions or decision-making has, until now, been solely left to the individual efforts of the user. Usually the user searched a finite information source (a library or database), found and extracted the needed information, and then synthesized it into the proper
Contents Introduction ......................................................................................................125 The Information Overload Situation .................................................................126 Moving Toward a Room Service Model .............................................................129 Challenges and Obstacles ..................................................................................135 Summary and Conclusion .................................................................................136 References .........................................................................................................137
format (e.g., white paper, term paper, report, action paper, etc.). This approach, primarily one of “self-service,” has been the norm. Within this self-service model, the user has the burden of finding the proper information, filtering it into the proper format, fusing it into a credible document relevant to the need, and distributing that document to the appropriate parties. In an era where information was relatively limited and access to that information mainly local (e.g., the local library or a database within the organization), this model worked well for many. The user simply found whatever information he or she required and synthesized it into the necessary form.
