Information anxiety and organizational performance: Challenges and Solutions in the Digital Age

ABSTRACT

Introduction:  Increasing digitalization and the exponential increase in data volume have profoundly impacted the organizational environment, resulting in challenges related to information anxiety. This phenomenon, coined by Wurman in 1989, describes the gap between what we know and what we believe we should know, generating discomfort, frustration, and cognitive overload.

Objective:  To investigate the relationship between information anxiety and organizational performance, analyzing the main mediating factors, such as digital literacy, organizational leadership, and strategic people management. Methodology: This is a qualitative, exploratory study based on content analysis and case studies available in scientific databases such as BRAPCI, JSTOR, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Articles focusing on organizational settings were selected, while academic research unrelated to the topic and those concerning COVID-19 pandemic were excluded.

Results:  A total of 130 articles were analyzed, of which only five directly addressed information anxiety and organizational performance, highlighting a gap in both the quantity and depth of studies in the subject. Most studies take a more general approach to anxiety focusing on psychological aspects.

Conclusion:  The results demonstrate that information anxiety negatively affects productivity, innovation, and operational efficiency indicators, in addition to impacting employees' emotional well-being. Factors such as digital literacy, effective organizational leadership, and strategic people management emerge as essential mediators in mitigating the adverse effects of information anxiety.

KEYWORDS
Information anxiety; Organizational performance; Digital literacy; People management; Leadership.