Here are some commonly asked questions about information management:

"What is 'information management'?"

"What benefits can my organization expect from using information management techniques?"

"What disciplines make up information management?"

"How does 'management' apply to information work?"

"Is information management about computers?"

"What is 'information management'?"

Information management is a multi-disciplinary practice which applies sound management principles to the life cycle of an organization's information resources.

The information life cycle includes creation, evaluation, acquisition, organization, representation, control, dissemination, use, protection, and ultimate disposition of information—whatever the format or medium and whether of internal or external origins.

The goals of information management are getting the right information to the right person, at the right time, from the right source, in the right amount, in the right order, in the right form, in the right medium, with optimal accuracy, as quickly as possible—and at the lowest reasonable cost.

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“What benefits can my organization expect from using information management techniques?”

Among your benefits will be:

   Knowing where all the information is—down the hall, around the world

   Effective management of the spiraling growth of information

   Reduction of costs associated with information processing (e.g., staff, space, equipment, supplies)

   Improved efficiency and productivity in information processing

   Sound policy support for information management procedures and practices

   Reduction of frustrating and costly episodes of "missing" files

   Reduced litigation exposure, especially that involving flawed information retention policies and practices

   Increased regulatory and audit compliance

   Identification and protection of records needed for business recovery in the event of disaster

   Assimilation of information technologies appropriate to specific applications

   Quicker response to customers' information-based needs

   Improved support for decision making

   Effective maintenance of the corporate memory (information of permanent value to the organization)

   Preservation of all media (e.g., paper, digital, film) containing information of long–term value

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“What disciplines make up information management?”

The information management disciplines include, but are not limited to, records management, archives management, corporate librarianship, knowledge management, business intelligence, document management, micrographics, and electronic records/imaging systems.

Adoption of records management is the foundational step in managing organizational information. Without a commitment to records management principles, processess, and practices, future initiatives will likely be hampered.

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“How does ‘management’ apply to information work?”

Information work includes services like indexing, database searching for customers, HTML coding, and the like. Useful tasks certainly, but they are not managerial.

An essential element of information management is applying principles of planning, decision making, organizing, staffing, leading, budgeting, funding, and coordinating in the corporate environment. "Management" also means applying management tools to information needs (e.g., cost–benefit studies, cost analyses, and outsourcing studies). These tools offer a solid foundation for decision making.

Because information managers are concerned with information itself (content), as well as technology, they can address the quality and accuracy of information, its availability, its relevance, its currency, accessibility, credibility, completeness, and suitability for users' needs.

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“Is information management about computers?”

Some information needs or problems are rooted in an organization's policies, processes, and procedures. Changes in those areas may wholly resolve an issue without adding new equipment or more staff. Knowing, for example, how long records—all records—must be kept is a policy and procedure-based issue—with legal as well as economic implications.

The computer is an important tool in all of the information disciplines. For the computer specialist, however, it is the only tool. Many computer specialists are not familiar with the variety of task-appropriate systems (e.g., optical disk, computer-output-microfiche, computer-assisted retrieval systems).

And these days, it's easy to confuse means (computers) with ends (information of all types from all sources needed by staff). Information managers help clients choose from a range of solutions the solution most appropriate to each information task. Task first, tool second; identify the ends, the means will follow.

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To find out more about information management and records management please visit a link below:

    What is information management?

    Presentations on information management

    Do you need information management?

    What does records management do?

    Records management facts, laws, statistics, and wisdom

    About retention schedules

   Cost reduction/avoidance case study