The document discusses the critical role of information across various sectors, including education, research and development, decision-making, business, government, and socio-economic development. It emphasizes the importance of information in fostering a learning society, facilitating research innovations, and enabling effective governance and socioeconomic progress. Key terms and influential figures in the information society are also highlighted, illustrating how information shapes modern civilization.

1. Unit-1: Role of Information
By,
Vasantha Raju N.
Librarian
Government First Grade College
Periyapatna
vasanthrz@gmail.com
MyLISA OPENS (Orientation Program for Enthusiasts of NET/SLET Exam)
in Library & Information Science
November 10, 2013
SBRR Mahajana First Grade College, Jayalakshmipuram, Mysore

2. Presentation Layout
• Role of Information in
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education
research & development (R & D)
decision making
business and industry
Government
socio-economic development and in day to day life
• Some Important terms associated with these concepts

3. Role of Information
Information society,
information age, global village,
information economy,
digital natives, knowledge society,
technotronic society, telematic society
information worker,
networked society, leisure society
knowledge economy,
infosphere

4. Role of Information in Education
• The important feature of information society is its emphasis
on education
– Universal Education is the norm of information society
– The Right to Education Act (RTE) introduced by the Indian Government
in Parliament in 2010 is best example to achieve the universal
education.
– The focus is not merely to improve literacy rate but creating a learning
society which help for rapid acquisition of a changing set of skills
In order to achieve this- information is vital
(content and curriculum development, and in the creation of material
and methods of technology and learning)

5. Role of Information in R & D
• Information is a life blood for research
• The innovations and inventions depend information largely
– Example : Drug discovery for a diseases
• New ideas generated through previous work (research)
Standing on the shoulders of giants- Isaac Newton
• Many R & D institutions in India and across the globe have
established information centers to gather, organize and
provide access to information
– NISCAIR ( National Institute of Science Communication and Information
Resources)-CSIR
– FOSTIS (Food Science And Technology Information Service) –CFTRI
– ICSSR (Indian Council of Social Science Research)
– INIS (International Nuclear Information System) of IAEA
– AGRIS (International Information System for the Agricultural Sciences and
Technology) –FAO, Etc.,

6. Role of Information in Decision Making
Information is central in decision making
For example :
• In government in order to reduce the gender gap what they
need is information-Census data
– Help for identifying problems and offer better solutions
• In management information is crucial for taking or arriving at
a right decisions
- To overcome the problem of job attrition in companies
• If a person have enough information will be in a better
position to arrive at right decision (job, education, etc.,)

7. Role of Information in Business and Industry
• In business sector, information helps in telemarketing, better
financial management, customer service, training, sales,
product development, market intelligence, looking for
customers, etc. (Marketing Research)
• Business Reports (Goldman Sachs, McKinsey) informing the
business managers about the recent trends in Business and
economy and growing markets for a particular products, etc.

8. Role of Information in Government
Governments of almost all the countries of the world are
the largest consumers of information and knowledge
Government at all level needs information to run a country
in a better way (education, health, industry, etc.,)
Many welfare schemes are introduced because of
information gathered at the government level (PDS, Food
Security Act, MGNREGA, Yeshasvini Health Insurance
Scheme, etc.,)
-Wikileaks exposure put America in a difficult situation

9. Role of Information in Socio-Economic Development
• Introduction of ADHAR card (UIDAI) is best example for the
role of information in socio-economic development .
• Socio-economic indicators such as : Gross Domestic
Productivity (GDP), life expectancy, literacy and level of
employment all are identified based on the information we
gather.
• To improve the socio-economic conditions of the people
information is crucial.
• Socio-economic Survey conducted by Planning Commission or
other organization provide required data for welfare schemes.
• At International level – Human Development Index (HDI)UNDP

10. Key terms and people associated with information (society)
Global village (media is the message)- Marshal McLuhan
Post industrial society- Denial Bell
The Future shock, The third wave – Alvin Toffler
Marc Porat- Information worker
Knowledge society- Peter F. Drucker
Technotronic society- Brzezinski Zbigniew
Telematic society- Simon Nora & Minc Alain
The coming of information age –WilsonP. Dizard
Networked society-Manuel Castells
Fritz Machlup- Information society
Derek de Solla Price- Little Science Big Science, Science since Babylon
Manfred Kochen –Information and Society
The information society- William J. Martin

11. Conclusion
Information rich countries are ruling the
world today