Data Management: Information Overload (Definitions)

"A state in which information can no longer be internalized productively by the individual due to time constraints or the large volume of received information." (Martin J Eppler, "Managing Information Quality" 2nd Ed., 2006)

"Phenomena related to the inability to absorb and manage effectively large amounts of information, creating inefficiencies, stress, and frustration. It has been exacerbated by advances in the generation, storage, and electronic communication of information." (Glenn J Myatt, "Making Sense of Data: A Practical Guide to Exploratory Data Analysis and Data Mining", 2006)

"A situation where relevant information becomes buried in a mass of irrelevant information" (Josep C Morales, "Information Disasters in Networked Organizations", 2008)

"A situation where individuals have access to so much information that it becomes impossible for them to function effectively, sometimes leading to where nothing gets done and the user gives the impression of being a rabbit caught in the glare of car headlights." Alan Pritchard, "Information-Rich Learning Concepts", 2009)

"is the situation when the information processing requirements exceed the information processing capacities." (Jeroen ter Heerdt & Tanya Bondarouk, "Information Overload in the New World of Work: Qualitative Study into the Reasons", 2009)

"Refers to an excess amount of information, making it difficult for individuals to effectively absorb and use information; increases the likelihood of poor decisions." (Leslie G Eldenburg & Susan K Wolcott, "Cost Management" 2nd Ed., 2011)

"The inability to cope with or process ever-growing amounts of data into our lives." (Linda Volonino & Efraim Turban, "Information Technology for Management" 8th Ed., 2011)

"The state where the rate or amount of input to a system or person outstrips the capacity or speed of processing that input successfully." (DAMA International, "The DAMA Dictionary of Data Management", 2011)

"The state in which a huge influx of information interferes with understanding an issue, making good decisions, and performance on the job." (Carol A. Brown, "Economic Impact of Information and Communication Technology in Higher Education", 2014)

"The difficulty a person can have understanding an issue and making decisions that can be caused by the presence of too much information." (Li Chen, "Mobile Technostress", Encyclopedia of Mobile Phone Behavior, 2015)

"Occurs when excess of information suffocates businesses and causes employees to suffer mental anguish and physical illness. Information overload causes high levels of stress that can result in health problems and the breakdown of individuals’ personal relationships." (Sérgio Maravilhas & Sérgio R G Oliveira, "Entrepreneurship and Innovation: The Search for the Business Idea", 2018)

"A set of subjective and objective difficulties, mainly originating in the amount and complexity of information available and people’s inability to handle such situations." (Tibor Koltay, "Information Overload", 2021)