Forty six per cent of Irish managers say information overload is reducing their job satisfaction.

Only marginally less - 42 per cent - say too much information is leaving them unclear about their job responsibilities and with less free time which is putting a strain on personal relationships. These are the findings of an international survey carried out on behalf of Reuters, the information and news group.

During September and October, 50 Irish managers were interviewed as part of an international survey of 1,072 company executives from 11 countries. The aim was to gather their views and experiences of handling information. Sixty six per cent of Irish respondents said the problem of information overload was worsening, compared with 48 per cent of all international respondents.

Despite this, the situation has improved over the past few years. In 1997, 80 per cent of all respondents believed the problem of information overload was worsening.

In the most recent survey, Irish managers topped the table as those most likely to consider themselves "victims" of information overload. Only 10 per cent of Irish organisations have implemented a structured policy to manage information, with 60 per cent saying they had no plans to implement an information management policy.

For three quarters of Irish respondents time was found to be the greatest barrier to accessing necessary information. Not knowing how to access relevant information was described as the second biggest obstacle, followed closely by information overload.

With three quarters of Irish managers using the Internet on a weekly basis, 58 per cent said it has improved the information overload problem. But one fifth believe it is making the problem worse.

Looking to the future, Irish managers were quick to accept the importance of information technology, with 78 per cent believing children denied access to computers would suffer educationally.

More than four-fifths said they felt schools and colleges could be doing more to prepare children for dealing with information, though they expected today's children would be better equipped to deal with information management once they enter the workplace.

Responding to the survey, the managing director of Reuters Ireland, Ms Maureen Marlowe said time seemed to be a major issue for Irish managers. "Almost three-quarters say they are constrained by time when trying to access the information they require. However it is likely that this situation will improve in the years ahead as business avails of greater technological advances."