If you sit and think about it, the sheer amount of information we receive, process, and pass on during any given day quite incredible. In a workplace context, much of this information passing happens in a formalized fashion, or even as part of a standardized process (think various documents, reports, spreadsheets, emails, meetings, etc.).
Throughout our day, we often participate in this incessant bombarding of information without giving much thought about how information is communicated and utilized beyond the scope of what is relevant at the moment. It is crucial to ask ourselves both where the information we are using originated as well as where it will eventually end up. Ultimately, it comes down to the importance of citing your sources – an aspect of information exchange that is easily overlooked in a work setting.
The context in which you report or document your source(s) of information may have changed since you wrote your last research paper, but that doesn’t mean the same principles of ethics and traceability of information don’t apply anymore. Here are a few thoughts around why this is important.
1. Giving credit where it’s due – If you did not produce the work you are passing on, someone else did. Failing to acknowledge where or how you obtained specific information/methods/results is unethical, and in some unfortunate cases can escalate to legal problems. This is true even if the un-cited source applies to only a small portion of the work you are presenting. It can be tempting to take credit for what you are passing on, especially when the lines are unclear. And in many cases, it takes humility to admit and acknowledge quality work done by others that may outshine what you have put together. But always remember to put yourself in the shoes of the person who spent much time and effort to provide you with the information that has enabled you to produce your work. People will recognize and remember you for your integrity and honesty.
2. Taking ownership over your work – What differentiates a great employee from a good employee is that the great employee takes ownership over his/her original work (information). This means that he will take responsibility for the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of what he puts his efforts into. Naturally, it will motivate him to keep a high standard of work ethics. Out of the same self-respect, the great employee understands what it takes for others to produce their work, and thus extends the same appreciation to those whose work is original and of quality. It’s a two-way street. Recognizing what isn’t yours allows you to take ownership of what is your and appreciate it.
3. Traceability of sources – If the information you pass on turns out to be inaccurate or false, there needs to be a way to trace it back to its source to solve the error. The same applies even in situations where the same work you produced needs to be modified or edited from its original form. If you fail to acknowledge your sources (whether by choice or not), you are the final destination of source tracing – be ready to bear the responsibilities and consequences.
It doesn’t take much effort to add a little footnote or a disclaimer to indicate where specific information comes from. But the act of acknowledging sources speaks so much about your ethical standards, character, and good habits that add value to the team/organization you are a part of. So challenge yourself to start forming this habit today.
