What can cause 'information overload' in an individual?

Receiving an abundance of messages can indeed lead to information overload because it overwhelms an individual's capacity to process and comprehend the information being presented. When one is bombarded with more data than they can realistically manage, it becomes difficult to prioritize what is important, leading to confusion and decreased effectiveness in decision-making. This may result in stress and reduced productivity, as the individual struggles to filter through the excessive amount of information.

In a dynamic organizational environment, many sources of communication (such as emails, meetings, and reports) contribute to this phenomenon; thus, the sheer volume of incoming messages often exceeds one’s ability to assimilate the content meaningfully. Effective information management strategies are essential to mitigate the risk of overload.