Information Literacy: A Sine Qua Non for Environmental Scanning

Abstract

The external environment is becoming more uncertain and volatile. To be successful and retain competitiveness, organizations have to regularly detect external signals systematically process information and use such information. Environmental scanning is a way for organizations to detect  changes and thereby formulate a strategy to cope with uncertainties. Information literacy skills are required to conduct effective and efficient environmental scanning activities as it is an information intensive process. The development of information technology and telecommunication, and libraries provides various channels and applications for accessing, processing and distributing information, which requires information literacy skills for dealing with environmental information scanning. This paper therefore discusses the issues in environmental scanning, rationale for information literacy on environmental scanning, and aspect of information literacy needed for environmental scanning. Challenges of conducting environmental scanning and recommendations were also shed lighted.