Authority is Contextual

Learning Outcomes
1. Assess the appropriateness of the specific authority within a variety of contexts.
2. Intentionally select sources of information for a specific purpose

At this stage of the evaluation process, let’s pause to consider how you are going to use whatever information you collect. What will your audience find trustworthy? One source of information may take on different meanings and purposes based on the context. There are no static formulas to guide your evaluation but rather principles to follow and flexible strategies to practice.

 Consider this example.

You work for a company where some employees work from home and others work in the office. The company owner is concerned about productivity with this organizational model.

How does your audience influence the type of information you share with them?

• The owner probably wants data to determine impacts on productivity. 
• A coworker might be more interested in policies that will impact their work. 
• A supervisor may want to know how to balance an employee’s preferences and needs with an owner’s expectations for productivity. 

The interests and needs of your audience should influence your choices in gathering and presenting information.

Let’s practice!

Your company is discussing a potential change in their remote work policy. You get many requests for information on how working from home impacts worker productivity. Identify which audience—the company owner, your supervisor, or a co-worker—you would share each of the following sources with.

Who would you share this with? What is it about the source that would be meaningful to the audience you chose?

For each source choose the person that would find the information most helpful and explain why it might be important to them in making a decision about a remote work policy. How does it help? Are there any limitations to the information?