Information Overload: When does Knowledge become too much?
Our world thrives on information. The root word ‘inform’ in its basic interpretation would imply the transfer of knowledge, data or facts through books, experiences, our immediate environment or from one person to another. Our brains rely on information and our DNA represents unique genetic information about us. A world without information would cease to exist faster than we can imagine. Information is to our world like food and water to any living being.
The big question is, can information actually get too much? Just like excess food and water would have a negative effect on the health of a human being, would excess information have a similar effect on the receiver? Have you ever imagined being knowledgeable about everything? Wouldn’t your brain run the risk of exploding someday? These are some of the questions I have had to ask myself sometimes and I still don’t have an answer.
I am quite sure you must have heard of the concept of ‘knowing a little about everything’ and ‘knowing everything about a little’. Basically, a balanced mind is one that enjoys some level of versatility. You could be a medical doctor with a deep knowledge of medical sciences having practiced for many years and yet still know all the players in your favourite football team, know the guy who won the Best Hiphop Act in the Grammys, know the names of over 20 Governors of Nigerian states, know all the lyrics in Burna Boy’s ‘23’, know over 50 quotes from philosophers, have a fair insight into the political party that would win the Presidential elections in 2023 with relevant statistics and still be able to tell the difference between a Long Island and a Barcadi Mojito and identify about 10 different cocktails in a bar, even though you are not a bartender . . . the list goes on! Information is priceless and it drives our world.
In today’s world, especially in the legal sector and other related sectors, conversations around financial matters have become common place. You need to check the financial health of that company to determine in a civil suit if the company should be acquired or the management change its strategic direction among many other decisions. These decisions among others are most times tied to financial information and tons of documents to be reviewed again and again. One of such documents is the Audited Financial Statements (AFS). Now, as a Non-Accounting Executive, what do you do when you come across the AFS? Call your accountant? Call your son in secondary school who happens to be taking Accounting as a subject?
Would your knowledge of financial accounting or the AFS not translate to information overload especially as a non-accounting executive? Well I choose to look at it this way: I wouldn’t need to incur the additional cost of getting an accountant to look at the AFS or subject myself to the stress of always looking for someone knowledgeable in this area to help me out every time I have to deal with these seemingly obnoxious documents if only I decide to add this knowledge to my information bank . . . a little about everything. and why not information on the AFS?
Now, do you know you could take advantage of 21Search’s Training on Audited Financial Statements for Non-Accounting Executives (AFS4NAE) coming soon? Watch this space and all our social media expressions for more details. You could also reach out to us to find out more on this. If this classifies as information overload, then you might as well be human porter for this one. Trust me, you’ll be glad you made that choice. Do enjoy the rest of the week ahead!
GB