IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/ininma/v31y2011i2p137-148.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The scope of external information-seeking under uncertainty: An individual-level study

Author

Listed:
  • Guo, Bin

Abstract

As a first attempt to empirically investigate the scope of external information-seeking under uncertainty, this paper examines the direct and interactive effects of task uncertainty on the scope of external information-seeking. Search depth and breadth are the two components of the scope of external information-seeking in defining an individual's external information search strategy. The empirical results show that at the source portfolio level, task uncertainty exhibits positive effects on both the depth and breadth of external information-seeking. It is also found that there is a positive relationship between task uncertainty and depth-first propensity, which is defined as a seeker's propensity to acquire information through increasing search depth instead of through widening search breadth at the source portfolio level. Furthermore, the results show that the positive relationship between task uncertainty and depth-first propensity in external information-seeking is stronger when perceived source accessibility is low than when it is high. This study makes a contribution to the information-seeking literature by helping us understand how task uncertainty and source characteristics shape an individual's external information-seeking at the level of source portfolio and providing evidence of the task-source fit perspective in explaining information-seeking behaviour under uncertainty at the source portfolio level.

Suggested Citation

  • Guo, Bin, 2011. "The scope of external information-seeking under uncertainty: An individual-level study," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(2), pages 137-148.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ininma:v:31:y:2011:i:2:p:137-148
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2010.08.005
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0268401210001209
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2010.08.005?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. James G. March, 1991. "Exploration and Exploitation in Organizational Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 2(1), pages 71-87, February.
    2. Ozanne, Julie L & Brucks, Merrie & Grewal, Dhruv, 1992. "A Study of Information Search Behavior during the Categorization of New Products," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 18(4), pages 452-463, March.
    3. Nigel Ford & T.D. Wilson & Allen Foster & David Ellis & Amanda Spink, 2002. "Information seeking and mediated searching. Part 4. Cognitive styles in information seeking," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 53(9), pages 728-735.
    4. T.D. Wilson & N.J. Ford & D. Ellis & A.E. Foster & A. Spink, 2002. "Information seeking and mediated searching: Part 2. Uncertainty and its correlates," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 53(9), pages 704-715.
    5. David Ellis & T.D. Wilson & Nigel Ford & Allen Foster & H.M. Lam & R. Burton & Amanda Spink, 2002. "Information seeking and mediated searching. Part 5. User–intermediary interaction," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 53(11), pages 883-893.
    6. Mary J. Culnan, 1985. "The dimensions of perceived accessibility to information: Implications for the delivery of information systems and services," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 36(5), pages 302-308, September.
    7. William Ocasio, 1997. "Towards An Attention‐Based View Of The Firm," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 18(S1), pages 187-206, July.
    8. Eric von Hippel, 1994. ""Sticky Information" and the Locus of Problem Solving: Implications for Innovation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 40(4), pages 429-439, April.
    9. Amanda Spink & T.D. Wilson & Nigel Ford & Allen Foster & David Ellis, 2002. "Information‐seeking and mediated searching. Part 1. Theoretical framework and research design," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 53(9), pages 695-703.
    10. Amanda Spink & T.D. Wilson & Nigel Ford & Allen Foster & David Ellis, 2002. "Information seeking and mediated searching study. Part 3. Successive searching," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 53(9), pages 716-727.
    11. Colin K. Mick & Georg N. Lindsey & Daniel Callahan, 1980. "Toward usable user studies," Journal of the American Society for Information Science, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 31(5), pages 347-356, September.
    12. Yunjie (Calvin) Xu & Bernard C.Y. Tan & Li Yang, 2006. "Who will you ask? An empirical study of interpersonal task information seeking," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 57(12), pages 1666-1677, October.
    13. Moshe Yitzhaki & Gloria Hammershlag, 2004. "Accessibility and use of information sources among computer scientists and software engineers in Israel: Academy versus industry," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 55(9), pages 832-842, July.
    14. Bruce Kogut & Udo Zander, 1996. "What Firms Do? Coordination, Identity, and Learning," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 7(5), pages 502-518, October.
    15. Browne, Glenn J. & Pitts, Mitzi G., 2004. "Stopping rule use during information search in design problems," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 95(2), pages 208-224, November.
    16. Jeonghyun Kim, 2009. "Describing and predicting information‐seeking behavior on the Web," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 60(4), pages 679-693, April.
    17. James W. Brown & James M. Utterback, 1985. "Uncertainty and Technical Communication Patterns," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 31(3), pages 301-311, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Li, Jo-Yun & Qiao, Shan & Harrison, Sayward & Li, Xiaoming, 2017. "Utilizing an interpersonal communication framework to understand information behaviors involved in HIV disclosure," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 250-256.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Jin Ha Lee, 2010. "Analysis of user needs and information features in natural language queries seeking music information," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 61(5), pages 1025-1045, May.
    2. Li, Shenxue & Clark, Timothy & Sillince, John, 2018. "Constructing a strategy on the creation of core competencies for African companies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 204-213.
    3. Mehmet Ali Köseoglu & John A. Parnell & Melissa Yan Yee Yick, 2021. "Identifying influential studies and maturity level in intellectual structure of fields: evidence from strategic management," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(2), pages 1271-1309, February.
    4. John Seely Brown & Paul Duguid, 2001. "Knowledge and Organization: A Social-Practice Perspective," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 12(2), pages 198-213, April.
    5. Wanda J. Orlikowski, 2002. "Knowing in Practice: Enacting a Collective Capability in Distributed Organizing," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(3), pages 249-273, June.
    6. Chila, Vilma, 2021. "Knowledge dynamics in employee entrepreneurship : Implications for parents and offspring," Other publications TiSEM a1f5d18c-783b-4af6-8414-6, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    7. Bo Bernhard Nielsen & Sabina Nielsen, 2009. "Learning and Innovation in International Strategic Alliances: An Empirical Test of the Role of Trust and Tacitness," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(6), pages 1031-1056, September.
    8. Samina Karim & Aseem Kaul, 2015. "Structural Recombination and Innovation: Unlocking Intraorganizational Knowledge Synergy Through Structural Change," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 26(2), pages 439-455, April.
    9. Chen, Jian-xun & Zhang, Bo & Zhan, Wu & Sharma, Piyush & Budhwar, Pawan & Tan, Hui, 2022. "Demystifying the non-linear effect of high commitment work systems (HCWS) on firms’ strategic intention of exploratory innovation: An extended resource-based view," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    10. Lori Rosenkopf & Paul Almeida, 2003. "Overcoming Local Search Through Alliances and Mobility," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 49(6), pages 751-766, June.
    11. Wang, Daojuan & Hain, Daniel S. & Larimo, Jorma & Dao, Li T., 2020. "Cultural differences and synergy realization in cross-border acquisitions," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 29(3).
    12. Emmanuelle Vaast & Geoff Walsham, 2009. "Trans-Situated Learning: Supporting a Network of Practice with an Information Infrastructure," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 547-564, December.
    13. Tammy L. Madsen & Elaine Mosakowski & Srilata Zaheer, 2003. "Knowledge Retention and Personnel Mobility: The Nondisruptive Effects of Inflows of Experience," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(2), pages 173-191, April.
    14. Frank T. Rothaermel & Maria Tereza Alexandre, 2009. "Ambidexterity in Technology Sourcing: The Moderating Role of Absorptive Capacity," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 20(4), pages 759-780, August.
    15. Mahmoud Ibrahim Fallatah, 2021. "Innovating in the Desert: a Network Perspective on Knowledge Creation in Developing Countries," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 12(3), pages 1533-1551, September.
    16. Lee, Jangwook & Chung, Jiyoon, 2022. "Women in top management teams and their impact on innovation," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    17. Anu Wadhwa & Isabel Maria Bodas Freitas & M. B. Sarkar, 2017. "The Paradox of Openness and Value Protection Strategies: Effect of Extramural R&D on Innovative Performance," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 28(5), pages 873-896, October.
    18. Camisón, César & Forés, Beatriz, 2011. "Knowledge creation and absorptive capacity: The effect of intra-district shared competences," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 66-86, March.
    19. Li, Wen Helena & Guo, Bin & De Sisto, Marco, 2021. "Untangling the commonalities and differences between domestic cross-regional experience and international experience in shaping speed of internationalization," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(2).
    20. Gwendolyn K. Lee & Robert E. Cole, 2003. "From a Firm-Based to a Community-Based Model of Knowledge Creation: The Case of the Linux Kernel Development," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 14(6), pages 633-649, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:ininma:v:31:y:2011:i:2:p:137-148. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/international-journal-of-information-management .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.