Causes, consequences, and strategies to deal with information overload: A scoping review

The exponential growth of digital information has led to the pervasive problem of information overload, affecting decision-making, productivity, and well-being. This article reviews the existing literature on the various effects of information overload, its underlying causes, and strategies for mana...

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Main Authors: Leila Shahrzadi, Ali Mansouri, Mousa Alavi, Ahmad Shabani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-11-01
Series:International Journal of Information Management Data Insights
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667096824000508
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author Leila Shahrzadi
Ali Mansouri
Mousa Alavi
Ahmad Shabani
author_facet Leila Shahrzadi
Ali Mansouri
Mousa Alavi
Ahmad Shabani
author_sort Leila Shahrzadi
collection DOAJ
description The exponential growth of digital information has led to the pervasive problem of information overload, affecting decision-making, productivity, and well-being. This article reviews the existing literature on the various effects of information overload, its underlying causes, and strategies for managing it. A scoping review of English literature up until January 2023 was conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Emerald. The findings reveal that information overload is caused by personal factors, information characteristics, task parameters, organizational parameters, and information technology parameters. The effects include poor decision-making, decreased productivity, and cognitive pressures. Strategies for managing information overload include learning multiple skills and using filtering, prioritizing, and technology tools. This article provides a foundation for future research and interventions in this area.
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record_format Article
series International Journal of Information Management Data Insights
spelling doaj-art-0fdf80d19a3f432085a0a570d0f6dd5f2025-08-20T01:59:35ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Information Management Data Insights2667-09682024-11-014210026110.1016/j.jjimei.2024.100261Causes, consequences, and strategies to deal with information overload: A scoping reviewLeila Shahrzadi0Ali Mansouri1Mousa Alavi2Ahmad Shabani3Candidate in Knowledge and Information Science, Department of Knowledge and Information Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, IranDepartment of Knowledge and Information Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran; Corresponding author.faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Isfahan University of medical sciences, Isfahan, IranDepartment of Knowledge and Information Science, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, IranThe exponential growth of digital information has led to the pervasive problem of information overload, affecting decision-making, productivity, and well-being. This article reviews the existing literature on the various effects of information overload, its underlying causes, and strategies for managing it. A scoping review of English literature up until January 2023 was conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and Emerald. The findings reveal that information overload is caused by personal factors, information characteristics, task parameters, organizational parameters, and information technology parameters. The effects include poor decision-making, decreased productivity, and cognitive pressures. Strategies for managing information overload include learning multiple skills and using filtering, prioritizing, and technology tools. This article provides a foundation for future research and interventions in this area.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667096824000508Information overloadDecision-makingInformation managementCoping strategies
spellingShingle Leila Shahrzadi
Ali Mansouri
Mousa Alavi
Ahmad Shabani
Causes, consequences, and strategies to deal with information overload: A scoping review
International Journal of Information Management Data Insights
Information overload
Decision-making
Information management
Coping strategies
title Causes, consequences, and strategies to deal with information overload: A scoping review
title_full Causes, consequences, and strategies to deal with information overload: A scoping review
title_fullStr Causes, consequences, and strategies to deal with information overload: A scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Causes, consequences, and strategies to deal with information overload: A scoping review
title_short Causes, consequences, and strategies to deal with information overload: A scoping review
title_sort causes consequences and strategies to deal with information overload a scoping review
topic Information overload
Decision-making
Information management
Coping strategies
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667096824000508
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AT ahmadshabani causesconsequencesandstrategiestodealwithinformationoverloadascopingreview