How Do Information Workers Look for Information?

This IDC study surveyed knowledge workers to gather data on their information-seeking behavior. While great strides have been made in search technology, this data shows that either user behavior has not caught up to the possibilities that the technologies offer, or that the technologies themselves do not deliver what they promise. This study explores where users are going for their information, how long they are spending on their searches, and what kinds of questions they are seeking answers to.

"Today's users go to the Web to solve all their search problems," said Sue Feldman, IDC's VP for Search and Discovery Technologies. "While enterprises are sinking time and resources into their intranets, their users are going elsewhere for their information. This study indicates that intranet search and information portals are only at the beginning of their adoption phase."