Information Needs, Information Sources and Information Seeking Behaviours of Engineers in Breweries in Nigeria

This study examines the information needs, information sources and information seeking behaviours of engineers in breweries in Nigeria. Questionnaire was used to collect data from 288 engineers employed in four major breweries. The major information need of the engineers is to acquire more knowledge. The results further show that the knowledge quest of the engineers is not necessarily for academic, research, or product related purposes, but rather about new discoveries in the field and how to use new equipment. The engineers seek less information about their clients, or social and political activities; the nature of their tasks and engagement tends to limit their interaction with their social environment. The Internet is the source used most, preferred, accessed most and considered most relevant by the respondents. The breweries need to recognize and improve the availability and accessibility of the Internet in the workplace; they also need to promote social Web technologies such as blogs, wikis, podcasts and other social networking services to increase social interaction with colleagues and other persons. These strategies ultimately lead to better job performance, facilitate innovation, and encourage economic growth in the breweries.