Deception and reality: a challenge for the information and knowledge management function

Decisions are based on information. The decision-maker naturally assumes that it reflects reality. Yet data, which is used to create information, is easily manipulated, and the context can be changed to influence knowledge derived from the situation. The use of deception is nor new, but the advent of electronic information systems has made its potential more pervasive. This paper investigates the dilemma the information management function faces in ensuring the integrity of the data supplied, the information derived, and the knowledge created from their systems.