Lean Information – Eliminating information waste

In 1948, Claude Shannon published his seminal work on information entropy and the binary interface.[11] However, according to MIT professor, R. G. Gallagher, “[Shannon’s] Information Theory has very little to do with information. It really has to do with data... I don’t think anybody has any idea how to deal with information...”[12]

Sample research questions:

• Can Claude Shannon’s (and others) research be used to discover a Lean Information Theory to filter wasteful information?
• The Shannon Limit for data integrity is the maximum rate a message can be sent without error over a specified bandwidth in the presence of noise.[13] Is the Lean Information Limit for information efficiency the minimum message needed for complete action over a specified channel when competing for attention?
• Are Lean Information’s core attributes the most effective for  eliminating information waste – i.e., meaningless to relevant, ambiguous
  to specific, incorrect to correct, and incomplete to complete? Do sub-attributes exist and what are they?
• What are the best metrics and algorithms to measure information value in which situations – e.g., time, volume, money, mission, risk, error, efficiency ratios?
• For digital transformation, how can Lean Information best be employed as a common vocabulary between business and IT functions, consultants and customers?
• How can Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) prompts assist in rendering information lean? What are the pros and cons of using Generative AI?
• How can Lean Information be used as an early warning system to detect breakdowns in communication and pending social crises?
• How can Lean Information best be used to optimize collaboration and knowledge management systems?
• What competencies help to best create, use, and negotiate for Lean Information?
• Which functions and roles are likely to be responsible for Lean Information?
  
• What can help modify behavior in people who tend to naturally over-communicate?
  

Lean Information can be implemented in all sectors of society. The priority would be to reach early adopters in business, non-profit, government, healthcare, education, and news. The field of conflict resolution should also be included. For business and non-profit organizations, Lean Information can be targeted to senior managers, but coached to their middle managers who are on the front lines of customer and operational interaction.[14] Short, non-disruptive Lean Information tutorials can be offered to middle managers to enhance their team’s current information skills. Lean Information can be introduced downstream, in customer or member-facing functions, and moved upstream as needed.

In government, the opposite may be more effective. Senior managers («Kaderangestellte des Bundes») can be coached in Lean Information and then define their priorities based on importance, urgency, and required effort. In healthcare, it can help patients, practitioners, and insurers. Lean Information can be introduced into various types of educational and academic systems as a supplement, or aid, to the current curriculum. In news, Lean Information can be employed to structure and design articles so that consumers can quickly absorb story details. In conflict resolution, the four Lean Information attributes can be used as a common vocabulary to identify and repair communication breakdown for multilateral agreement.

Ultimately, how we create and use information is personal. Introducing Lean Information will focus on teaching and coaching («Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe»). It is important that those responsible for creating the information maintain control and advocate for change. Resistance may come from some information owners who believe their information is already lean. If this proves to be true, these people can be recruited to help others achieve their goals. It is always challenging to change behaviors and to learn new behaviors. However, it will be worth it. Change agents such as managers, coaches, and educators will contribute to the growing body of Lean Information skills, best practices, and standards. Partnerships with Swiss and global organizations, such as Digitalswitzerland, Swisspeace, and the World Economic Forum, may also support adoption of Lean Information practices.

Switzerland is highly qualified to introduce Lean Information to its citizens and the world. Its success in multilingual communication to promote mutual understanding and cooperation is well established. In the 1950s, Swiss Design emerged as an international visual communication style. It is characterised by minimalism and, clear and straightforward presentation of information: cleanliness, legibility, and objectivity. As an example of Swiss Design, “the Helvetica typeface is one of the single most ubiquitous typefaces in the world of modern design.”[15] Could Lean Information become a successor to Swiss Design?

Lean Information is a universal approach to using information that is consistently relevant, specific, correct, and complete. Just as society needs to eliminate waste from our environment, we need a common vocabulary and a simple solution to eliminate waste from our information. Similar to language proficiency and Swiss Design, Lean Information can become part of everyday life, supporting digital and communication transformation. Over the next 175 years, Lean Information will help us better structure our thinking and sharpen our natural intelligence. It will provide a strong foundation for greater understanding, health, and peace in Switzerland and around the world.