Controlling the flood: when more of a dose is less

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the flood of information that is inundating us. This flood makes it increasingly difficult to make sense of the world and arrive at the correct interpretation of events.

Design/methodology/approach

Classic narrative literature review applying the dosage metaphor to the growing problem of information overload.

Findings

The seven elements of dosage – amount, frequency, sequencing, delivery systems, contraindications, interactions, and dysfunctions – are used to discuss four major coping mechanisms – escape, attention, delegation, and creative destruction – for dealing with the flood. Each of the coping mechanisms has different entailments for the dosage elements.

Originality/value

This essay develops a guiding principle for thinking about how we should cope with this central problem of the information age: suggesting a minimalist approach that offers the hope of clarity in acting in an age that increasingly overwhelms us.

Citation

David Johnson, J. (2014), "Controlling the flood: when more of a dose is less", Journal of Documentation, Vol. 70 No. 3, pp. 330-345. https://doi.org/10.1108/JD-01-2013-0008