Information strategies: are we aligning the business case with enterprise planning?
| Published date | 01 April 2004 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/09565690410528893 |
| Pages | 7-13 |
| Date | 01 April 2004 |
| Author | Len Asprey |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Information strategies:
are we aligning the
business case with
enterprise planning?
Len Asprey
There is a compelling requirement for business
and government enterprises to address the
problems associated with managing information
assets, particularly the burgeoning growth of
digital assets, such as electronic documents,
e-mails, rich media such as sound files and
digital video, as well as digital drawings, and
Web content. The reaction of executive
management in both the commercial and
government sectors is mixed, with some
executives showing strong support for the
principles of information and records
management, while others do not seem to see
these disciplines as a business priority.
When executives fail to address problems
with managing digital and physical information
assets, they may not be fulfilling their
responsibilities to customers, shareholders or
the public. Executives may fail to realise the
potential impact that poor information
practices can have on customer service
strategies, business process improvement
initiatives and delivery of products/services to
market, as examples. Information professionals
have attempted to raise the profile of
information and recordkeeping in both
government and commercial sectors with mixed
results. Recently, several national and state
governments have added impetus to best
practice information and recordkeeping by
mandating specific initiatives that are to be
applied to departments, government
corporations and agencies within their
respective jurisdictions.
Executives commonly engage information
professionals within their organisations to
develop policies and strategies for managing
organisational information assets. These
professionals might be aware of the nature and
extent of organisational information issues, and
may also be cognisant of regulatory and
administrative compliance imperatives,
corporate governance and recordkeeping best
practice standards. These collective
requirements are often the cornerstone of
information policy, document management and
recordkeeping strategies developed by
information professionals. Strategies typically
include the requirement for acquiring and
implementing enabling information systems
(such as document and Web content
management systems) to implement
The author
Len Asprey is Director of Practical Information Management
Solutions Pty Ltd, Sydney, Australia.
Keywords
Information management, Management effectiveness,
Information strategy
Abstract
Focuses on the requirement for business and government
enterprises to address the problems associated with
managing the various types of information assets, such as
electronic documents, e-mails, sound files, digital drawings
and Web content. Outlines the challenges facing executives
in managing digital and physical information assets, in order
to fulfil their responsibilities to customers, shareholders or
the public. Suggests that information practitioners should
develop a thorough understanding of the business
imperatives within their organisations, and use applied
methodologies to analyse critically business processes,
methods and tools. This approach will mean that the various
information disciplines within enterprises will have to
communicate and share knowledge.
Electronic access
The Emerald Research Register for this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/researchregister
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0956-5698.htm
Opinion piece
7
Records Management Journal
Volume 14 .Number 1 .2004 .pp. 7-13
#Emerald Group Publishing Limited .ISSN 0956-5698
DOI 10.1108/09565690410528893
To continue reading
Request your trial