to stimulate the next wave of research on organization learning. It provides a conceptual framework for research on the differences and similarities of learning by individuals, groups, and organizations.

There is no consensus yet on the definition of semantic information. This paper contributes to the current debate by criticising and revising the Standard Definition of semantic Information (SDI) as meaningful data, in favour of the Dretske-Grice approach: meaningful and well-formed data constitute semantic information only if they also qualify as contingently truthful. After a brief introduction, SDI is criticised for providing necessary but insufficient conditions for the definition of semantic information. SDI is incorrect because truth-values do not supervene on semantic information, and misinformation (that is, false semantic information) is not a type of semantic information, but pseudo-information, that is not semantic information at all. This is shown by arguing that none of the reasons for interpreting misinformation as a type of semantic information is convincing, whilst there are compelling reasons to treat it as pseudo-information. As a consequence, SDI is revised to include a necessary truth-condition. The last section summarises the main results of the paper and indicates some interesting areas of application of the revised definition. 1.

Abstract--The first part of this paper examines some of the difficulties for the historian of information science that arise from the lack of agreement as to what precisely constitutes information science and from its commonly accepted interdisciplinary nature. It examines in this connection Machlup and Mansfield's ideas about a "narrow " information science and information science as a composite of disciplinary chunks. Regardless of these issues, it demonstrates that the history of information science is gaining an identity both biblio-graphically and socially. The second part of the paper suggests that as a condition of their organization, reproduction, and control all societies have evolved their own distinctive ways of managing information. Ultimately, then, the history of information science can be considered to extend far beyond the last 50 years where attention is commonly focused. Drawing on Brandel's notions, dur~e Iongue, moyenne and courte, the paper suggests an approach to periodicity that provides a new perspective for the history information science. The paper also introduces the notions of synchrony and diachrony to suggest other approaches to the historical study of aspects of information science. The paper concludes that the history of information science is an historical interdiscipline and those interested in it need

In philosophy of language, the phenomena fundamental to human communication are routinely modeled in ways that do not require commitment to a concept of “information ” separate from those of “data, ” “meaning,” “communication, ” “knowledge, ” and “relevance ” (inter alia). A taxonomy of conceptions of information may be developed that relies on commonly drawn philosophical distinctions (between linguistic, mental, and physical entities, between objects and events, and between particulars and universals); in such a taxonomy, no category requires the label “information” in order to be differentiated from others. It is suggested that a conception of information-as-relevance is currently the most productive of advances in theoretical information studies. Unsurprisingly, the nature of information has long been a topic of central concern for scholars of information studies (IS). 1 The body of literature in which authors have attempted to provide answers to the question “What is information? ” may be viewed in any (or any combination) of the following ways: (i) as contributing to science—if information is cast as a naturally occurring phenomenon; (ii) as contributing to social science—if information is considered to be a product of human artifice; or (iii) as contributing to philosophy—if “information ” is treated primarily as a fundamental concept existing at the same level as, for example, meaning, knowledge, and truth. Although this body of literature is sizeable when taken as a whole, the quantity of work that may be classed under the third heading is small. One approach that is often taken in studies representative of the third class is to compare theories of information with theories of knowledge. Commonly,

In this paper we entertain a distinction between Knowledge workers as occupied workers producing and transmitting knowledge (Machlup 1962), and Information workers in a modern Knowledge Society. This distinction is built upon a discussion of the difference between the nature of knowledge and Information. Upon this the notion of Activity based Knowledge worker is introduced. Then, the notion of Intelligent Software Agents (ISAs) as autonomous, social , reactive, proactive and subservient software computer systems is introduced. In (Abolfazlian 1996a) we have shown the need for these Agents as a direct consequence of factors such as Information anxiety, i.e. a human Agent's emotional response to the increasing volume and diversity of available information in our modern societies. Upon this we have shown (Abolfazlian 1996b, 1996c, 1996d) how these ISAs support human Agents in managerial issues concerning the introduction of new Information Technology in Organisations. In this paper we sho...

This article proposes a method that allows a value-based assessment of metadata quality and construction of a baseline quality model. The method is illustrated on a large-scale, aggregated collection of simple Dublin core metadata records. An analysis of the collection suggests that metadata providers and end users may have different value structures for the same metadata. To promote better use of the metadata collection, value models for metadata in the collection should be made transparent to end users and end users should be allowed to participate in content creation and quality control processes.

Strategic surprise lies in wait. There is no surprise if competitors can figure out one's intentions before end. We examine how enlightened strategists can enact the sociallyembedded knowledge that prevails over competitors ' behavior to their very own favor. Findings suggest that firms can strategize successfully by (a) identifying the levers of collective knowledge; (b) using them as to deter competitors from reacting. Key-Words: • dialectical relationship between collective and competitive strategizing • collective knowledge — socially-embedded knowledge – knowledge-based theory of the firm • oligopolies — strategically interdependent firms La discordance de l'oligopoliste rendue acceptable Comment activer les règles du jeu à son propre profit Résumé: L'effet de surprise stratégique demande une préparation. Il n'y a pas de surprise si les concurrents peuvent deviner les intentions ex-ante. Nous examinons comment un dirigeant éclairé réussit à activer les règles du jeu des acteurs d'un district en sa propre faveur. Les données analysées suggèrent que les firmes peuvent mener une stratégie efficace (a) en identifiant les leviers de la connaissance collective (b) en les utilisant pour amortir les réactions hostiles de la concurrence. Mots-clefs: • relation dialectique entre les stratégies collectives et les stratégies concurrentielles • connaissance collective- connaissance sociale • oligopoles- firmes stratégiquement interdépendantesThe Oligopolist's Discordance Made Acceptable?

This paper investigates the concept of information. It follows different approaches for defining information before discussing a knowledge-in-action view on information as part of sociomaterial practices. Drawing from Stamper’s (1991) extended semiological framework the paper proposes its reinterpretation to study information as a sociomaterial phenomenon. The paper further argues that rather than focusing on finding general definitions for information, intellectual efforts should concentrate on characteristics and attributes of information. Combining earlier efforts in this direction different attributes of information such as novelty, time dependence, or goal relevance. are introduced. Locating those attributes within Stamper's extended semiological framework helps to identify different aspects of sociomaterial context affecting information. Understanding and paying attention to information through its attributes can, therefore, provide guidance for researching information and possibly help advancing the development of information systems.

THIS ESSAY PROPOSES A MODEL called information genetics (IG) to elaborate on the origin of information generating. The model builds on a broad information generating force that is both cause and effect. Part I of this essay postulates this information generating force as the result of the interaction and intermediation among four subforces: Query, command, statement, and term-term bond. These subforces are described by a process called twisting-bonding/clipping-jointing.The effect of this process is elaborated