Air Force Information Management (IM): A 1993 Snapshot of Current and Projected Roles of Enlisted Information Managers

Abstract

This study provides a preliminary view of the level of familiarity enlisted information managers have of changing roles, responsibilities, and initiatives within the Information Management career field. Using a three-phase investigative methodology that combined e-mail, interviews, and mail surveys, the authors addressed the changing roles and responsibilities of enlisted information managers and their familiarity with these changes. This study found that although individuals agree that the role is changing and expanding, many are performing the traditional administrative taskings. The lower ranks still perceive themselves as 'clerks', whereas senior enlisted members consider themselves 'managers'. Although the career field name changed to Information Management, the supporting attitude has not. The greatest changes of responsibility focus on the use of new automated tools. From the results of our survey it is apparent that enlisted members in the field are not familiar with concepts and initiatives which are being projected as future responsibilities. Knowledge level tends to increase as rank increases, but this familiarity-level is attributed primarily to personal research. Respondents perceived on-the-job training to be the most appropriate training method for teaching future concepts. The major recommendation from this research is to increase the level of communication to career field members. Another recommendation focuses on the need to provide additional training to the NCO ranks in particular. Individuals would benefit from the development of other educational avenues besides Air Force technical training, such as courses at AFIT or through the Community College of the Air Force.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1993
Accession Number
ADA275931

Entities

People

  • Mary E. Duncan
  • Ted L. Roberts

Organizations

  • Air Force Institute of Technology

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Business Administration
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Data Analysis
  • Databases
  • Electronic Mail
  • Electronic Publishing
  • Information Processing
  • Information Science
  • Information Systems
  • Management Personnel
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Students

Readers

  • Gender and Food Studies
  • Instructional Design and Training Evaluation.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.