Effective presentation of information in a dynamic situation

The need to communicate information effectively to a diverse, technically based audience is discussed. The fange of media available is surveyed, extending from formal verbal exchanges, through memos, computer printouts and films, to research reports. The importance of weighing required impact against costs is stressed. It is necessary to assess new office systems and communications methods as they become available, to identify relationships with existing proven operations and to consider the desirability of changing the latter. The influence of customers' changing needs and the problems in commissioning new systems while phasing out old ones are included. No one mode of communication is best for all users. Therefore a complete repertoire of systems should be developed in an information department and then the optimum medium sought for each user. This will ensure that vital information always reaches its target. Selective reference is made to the past and present methods used at J. Lyons, where it is possible to trace the evolution of the present Group Scientific Information Service from a small laboratory library over a 7‐year period.