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Glossary 467

Fence Explicit ethical boundaries that show exactly where the important ethical lines lie, typi-
cally encapsulated in formal policy statements or laws.

Feudalism An organizational political model where individual business units act fairly autono-
mously in defi ning their information/knowledge needs.
Googling The use of the Google search engine (http://www.google.com) to locate content and
information about people.
Googlewhacking Searching the popular Google search engine with a two-word or more search
argument that will produce exactly (no less and no more than) one result.
Groupware Software that enables a group of users to collaborate on a project by means of
network communications. Software which supports collaborative work. It may include conferenc-
ing, shared fi les, or facilities to allow several people to work on one document. Software that
enables members of a network work group to communicate and collaborate through e-mail,
scheduling, bulletin boards, conferencing, project management, fi le sharing, and other means.
Heuristic A set of instructions for searching out an unknown goal by exploration, which con-
tinuously or repeatedly evaluates progress according to some known criterion. A method of
achieving a goal where the exact means of doing so cannot be precisely specifi ed: we know what
it is but not where it is. General rules and guidelines, but not prescribing a specifi c route to the
goal (antonym: algorithm).
Ideal Model of excellence or perfection of a kind; one having no equal. Conforming to an
ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal. Constituting or existing only
in the form of an idea or mental image or conception.
Incentive A reward for a specifi c behavior, designed to encourage that behavior. Also called
inducement. In economics, an incentive in anything that provides a motive for a particular
course of action that counts as a reason for preferring one choice to the alternatives.
Information Analyzed data. Facts that have been organized in order to impart meaning.
Information literacy A set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is
needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and effectively use the needed information.
Information resource management (IRM) An emerging discipline that helps managers assess
and exploit their information assets for business development. It draws on the techniques of
information science (libraries) and information systems (IT related). It is an important foundation
for knowledge management, in that it deals systematically with explicit knowledge. Knowledge
centers often play an important part in introducing IRM into an organization.
Innovation Innovation is a new idea applied to initiating or improving a product, process,
or service. All innovations involve change, but not all changes necessarily involve new ideas or
lead to signifi cant improvements. The concept of innovation encompasses new production
process technologies, new structures or administrative systems, and new plans or programs per-
taining to organizational members. The creation of something new or different; the conversion