Some observations on the semantics of "information"

The term 'Information' is widely used in the rhetoric of the Information So ciety, a rhetoric which some critics have judged to be empty at least in pa rt because of the overextension and inconsistent use of this word. We revie w the emergence of the concept of Information, identify a number of dimensi ons of similarity and difference in the way that the concept of Information is used and defined, and point up some specific areas where further critic al attention is needed, of special concern to the field of Information Syst ems. In particular we highlight some problems in identifying and understand ing 'Information Work', and some research themes relevant to Virtual Organi sations and Computer Supported Collaborative Work.