Why do we need Information Management?
"Data supply doesn't create information. Information
doesn't automatically lead to knowledge. Knowledge doesn't
lead directly to action. Business action and impact are the
goal."
Peter G.W. Keen
The majority of organisations today face an information crisis. Despite
all the advances in technology over the last 30 years, they are simply
not able to turn data into value, consistently, efficiently and effectively.
The reason is simple. Creating value from data is a multi-stage process.
Unless those stages are understood and actively managed the process will
deliver poor results.
Specialists coming from various backgrounds attempt to address individual
stages, or even to string together several parts of the process, dependent
on the angle from which they have come to the problem.
Those who approach from the Information Technology end find that as they
move away from delivery of the technology they are on ever more difficult
ground, and most have learned from bitter experience to draw a boundary
past which they will not go, and beyond which they relinquish responsibility
to the business.
Those who approach from the business end of the organisation are uncomfortable
with the need to focus on process and understand technical issues. Most
only get involved in the issue as part of a single project, and then return
to their day jobs.
Then there are those who work in the areas that have grown and developed
directly in tandem with the evolution of enabling technologies. Data-driven
and direct marketing, CRM, Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence.
Anyone involved in those activities will at some point have come to the
realisation that:
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Information Technology does not automatically produce information.
On the whole what it produces is data. In huge volumes. |
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Data does not automatically yield value. Someone has to
do work on it to produce information, and someone has to
act on that information to create value. |
Explicitly tasked with driving value from data these people find themselves
trying, consciously or unconsciously, to synthesise ideas and techniques
from a number of fields, and to develop a framework that allows them to
actively manage a process that crosses functional divides and involves
people from all parts of the organisation. They find themselves engaged
in a function which has no formal status, and that very few have yet put
a name to. That function is referred to throughout this site as Information
Management.
The case for Information Management is explored further in the articles
section of this site. Suggest you start with A
Call to Arms.
Next: What
is Information Management?
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"...an invaluable compendium on the most pressing challenge
in business today"
Sean Kelly
Comhra |
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"At last! Something
on data even an old Luddite like me can understand!"
Drayton Bird |
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"...a really useful resource to understanding all issues relating
to data management"
Prof Derek Holder
Institute of
Direct
Marketing |
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"...a down-to-earth, no-nonsense site designed to cover the
new practices and theory of Information Management"
Simon Lawrence
Information Arts |
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