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Purpose Competitive intelligence failures have devastating effects in marketplaces. They are attributed to various factors but seldom explicitly to information behaviour. This paper addresses causes of competitive intelligence failures from an information behaviour lens focussing on problems with key intelligence and information needs. The exploratory study was conducted in 2016/2017. Managers (end-users) identify key intelligence needs on which information is needed, and often other staff members seek the information (proxy information seeking). The purpose of this paper is to analyse problems related to key intelligence and information needs, and make recommendations to address the problems.Design/methodology/approach The study is placed in a post-positivism research paradigm, using qualitative and limited quantitative research approaches. In total, 15 participants (competitive intelligence professionals and educators/trainers originating from South Africa and the USA) contributed rich data through in-depth individual interviews.Findings Problems associated with articulation of information needs (key intelligence needs is the competitive intelligence term – with a broader scope) include inadequate communication between the person in need of information and the proxy information searcher; awareness and recognition of information needs; difficulty in articulation, incomplete and partial sharing of details of needs.Research limitations/implications Participant recruitment was difficult, representing mostly from South Africa. The findings from this exploratory study can, however, direct further studies with a very understudied group.Practical implications However, revealed valuable findings that can guide research.Originality/value Little has been published on competitive intelligence from an information behaviour perspective. Frameworks guiding the study (a combination of Leckie et al.’s 1996 and Wilson’s, 1981 models and a competitive intelligence life cycle), however, revealed valuable findings that can guide research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is argued that notwithstanding the life expectation of patients in palliative care, they still grapple with a wide spectrum of uncertainties for which they require answers to bring relief from anxiety. Nurses, appreciative of their role to relief anxiety, are often the only persons with whom patients have regular contact that can assist them in finding answers. Although nursing staff are well trained in palliative care, they often experience frustration when they fail to access the right information that will provide their patients' information needs. Despite evidence of numerous successful information provision interventions by nursing staff, the literature continues to report unmet information needs and frustrations of patients and their families. As a solution, this paper offers an exploratory conceptualisation of nurses and palliative care which can serve as a framework for further investigations towards enhancing nursing staff's information intermediary capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increase in the number of people diagnosed with life-threatening diseases and affected by palliative care, as well as an increase in studies on information behaviour including information seeking, can be noted. With this in mind, the paper briefly reviews reports on research on information behaviour in palliative care in terms of: target groups and participants, settings, research methods and methods of data collection, components of information behaviour, and the factors influencing information behaviour. For each, some research gaps are noted. A few key findings on information behaviour in palliative care are highlighted. The intention is not to offer a comprehensive review; it is merely an overview to stimulate research in information behaviour in palliative care and to offer a point of reference. There are numerous research opportunities preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this contribution is to encourage library and information (LIS) professionals to draw on the initiatives by Carol Kuhlthau to align information seeking with learning theories and new roles for intermediaries. Considering the vast array of developments in information communication technology (ICT), and the challenges and pressures for continuing professional development (CPD) and reflection, it seems timely to encourage experimentation with the ideas of Kuhlthau on Zones of Intervention and Lev Vygotsky on Zones of Proximal Development (ZPD), as means to become au fait with these theories, ideas and related research, and to apply these theories and ideas on a practical level to offer opportunities for the continuing professional development of LIS professionals with specific reference to ICT, and to eventually also impact on the training of users. Design/methodology/approach – This contribution will be written against the background of research from information literacy, information behaviour (including information seeking), the learning theory of Vygotsky on Zones of Proximal Development, and continuing professional development. Findings – Although the information seeking process (ISP) model of Kuhlthau is widely cited, the idea of Zones of Intervention which she developed from the work of Vygotsky does unfortunately not feature strongly in the LIS literature. Considering the literature on Zones of Proximal Development, it can, however, hold much potential for LIS professionals to align support with information seeking with professional (optimal) development – especially if using the focus (Zones of Intervention and Zones of Proximal Development) as a means to become au fait, and if initially taking a more practical and relaxed approach as point of departure. Originality/value – Relatively few publications on Zones of Intervention and Zones of Proximal Development appear in the LIS literature. None of these are to the author's knowledge, aligned to the continuing professional development of LIS professionals on a practical level or with regard to fully exploiting ICT developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is part of a doctoral study undertaken in the Department of Information Science at the University of Pretoria. It describes a now-completed investigation of the information-seeking behaviour of secondary level in-service geography teachers in Lesotho using focus group discussions. There were 82 participants in this sub-study teaching in various schools that offer geography both at junior and senior secondary levels in Lesotho. The study used Leckie, Pettigrew and Sylvain's (1996) model of the information seeking of professionals as its framework. Although Leckie et al's (1996) model identifies five work roles that trigger information needs, the empirical component this study identified three work roles: educator role, administrative role and non-academic role. In addition, the secondary geography teachers who were studied tend to use syllabus documents, learners' textbooks and colleagues as predominant information sources. They prefer information that will be easily understood by their learners and go to great lengths to seek information related to what they will deliver in class. This article offers a descriptive report of some key results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consulting engineers are professionals who are either self-employed or work for a consulting engineering company. They do not all necessarily have formally organised information services, such as libraries, available in their companies to provide in their information needs. The objective is to report on a qualitative study investigating the information behaviour of a small group of self-employed consulting engineers working in Gauteng. A combination of convenience and snowball sampling was used to select the eleven responding consulting engineers for this study. Semi-structured time-line interviews were conducted to collect the data. The gap-metaphor in Dervin's sensemaking approach was used to analyse the data. Leckie, Pettigrew and Sylvain's general model of the information-seeking of professionals provided the framework for the study. The results showed that consulting engineers rely heavily on people, personal files and personal knowledge for information. Other frequently used information sources include the Internet, File Transfer Protocol (FTP) sites and digital cameras. Consulting engineers need information from varied sources in the initial stages of a project. Information in the final stages of a project comes from the project itself. In conclusion comments are made on the use of Leckie et al's model and the gap-metaphor in Dervin's sense-making methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]