Past Year Question October 2012: Part C Question 1, (a)

Four organizational information cultures are information functional culture,information sharing culture,information inquiring culture and information discovery culture.

Information Functional Culture is employees use information as a means of exercising influence or power over others. For example, a manager in sales refuses to share information with marketing. This causes marketing to need the sales manager’s input each time a new sales strategy is developed.

Information Sharing Culture is employees across departments trust each other to use information (especially about problems and failures) to improve performance.

Information Inquiring Culture is employees across departments search for information to better understand the future and align themselves with current trends and new directions.

Information Discovery Culture is employees across departments are open to new insights about crisis and radical changes and seek ways to create competitive advantages.