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Obtain appropriate information

Once the source of the information has been found, the correct information needs to be collected. This will depend on the purpose of the information, the people who will use the information and the time available or necessary to obtain it.

For example, if a worker is asked to ring around the local produce stores to compare fertiliser prices, a half-hour conversation catching up on the local gossip would not be appropriate. Conversely, if the employee responsible for machinery maintenance was sent to look at a second-hand tractor, there would be an expectation that sufficient time would be spent to thoroughly assess the condition of the machine.

Information needs to be sorted so that only relevant data is collected. If a worker is asked to obtain a three-day weather forecast for the local district, a detailed analysis of the likelihood of cyclones in Queensland the following summer, although possibly interesting, would not be appropriate.

The information must also be interpreted correctly and written down accurately and legibly. A livestock carrier who phones to say that he will arrive to pick up cattle at 7am on Monday will not be impressed if the cattle are not yarded because the message was interpreted incorrectly and the subsequent note reads “Cattle truck coming 7pm Monday”.

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