Toward an Economy of Information for Organizations in a Limited-Growth Environment

Information overload, technological change, and financial problems combine with a possible moratorium on growth to increase the need for more rational, systematic, and quantified approaches to information activities in organizations. For communication managers who wish to develop more cost-effective and user-responsive programs, one possible avenue is the application of knowledge about the economic bases of information processing and communication systems. This paper outlines a framework designed to provide concepts beneficial to managers who wish to identify problems, conduct evaluations, and design solutions. The paper reviews and analyzes research literature, concentrating on the area of the economics of information; examines strategies for organizational adjustment; and proposes areas deserving the expanded attention of researchers and managers. (Author)