The Informal Information Network in an Age of Advanced Telecommunications

Modern telecommunications certainly provides unprecedented capability to transfer information, and just as certainly functions by means of information networks. There are, however, other sorts of information network which pre-date advanced telecommunications and which continue to play a role in the transfer of information. It is argued here that informal information networks which allow information exchange among individuals are still important and, in fact, make little use of advanced telecommunications. The value of information exchange by such means has long been recognised in high-technology industries. Evidence from those involved with cement admixture technology in the United Kingdom suggests that informal information networks are not confined to such information-intensive sectors.