My Favourite Tipples from an information management & information architecture professional
Jinfo Blog

By Noeleen Schenk

Abstract

My Favourite Tipples are shared by Noeleen Schenk, director of information management and information architecture consultancy Metataxis. She shares some of her go-to resources for learning about the latest business and technology trends and reveals how she keeps up with the sewing community.

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As a consultant, I need to constantly scan the horizon to keep up to date with current thinking and emergent trends and developments. These range from technology trends to sociological and behavioural changes. Plus, I need to keep up with information and knowledge management-specific topics and trends. I try to read a range of sources, which go in and out of favour depending on my mood and current client list. Here are some of my favourites:

• Harvard Business Review: You'll find business-related articles by some of the world's greatest thinkers here. That's why Harvard Business Review has been one of my favourite resources, going back to my MBA days. One of the most interesting authors is Rosabeth Moss Kanter, who writes about leading positive change. My favourite article on information and knowledge management is "Managing your Mission-Critical Knowledge" by Martin Ihrig and Ian MacMillan.

• Information Management: This is a really solid resource for all things information and data-related. I might not always agree with the opinions, but it is important to see a diverse range of views. Although quite a few of the articles, and especially the white papers, are written or sponsored by organisations, I don't think it detracts from the content.

• MIT Technology Review: One of the sites I use to keep on top of IT trends, MIT Technology Review is a resource I dip in and out of. I am currently interested in Digital Ledger Technology, of which Bitcoin is one of the most (in)famous applications, and how it might change how we manage information and data. I don't think it's a panacea, but I do think there are valid use-cases.

• Futurism: I am fascinated by forecasting and horizon-scanning. Thinking about the future is not only about emergent technologies but social and economic trends too. This magazine provides short articles that act as a springboard for further investigation.

For fun:

• Tilly and the Buttons and Sew Over it: These are two of my favourite blogs because I love sewing and needlework. It's fascinating and inspiring to see what people are making, and I pick up tips from fellow sewists (a combination of "sew" and "artist"). Both blogs create their own patterns with loads of hints and advice. Besides these, there are a vast number of sewing websites and the sewist community is very supportive.

An article in Jinfo I found particularly interesting:

• As a consultant whose clients have the challenge of managing their information resources in an ever-evolving technology environment, many Jinfo articles are of interest. The Research Focus, "The accidental technologist - where your expertise meets the new world" is especially relevant. To date, my favourite article is "Jinfo model - mapping technology readiness", which provides a simple but highly effective two-by-two model to consider how well you are engaged with, and aligned with, relevant stakeholders.

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