The efficiency with which Information is exchanged and the effectiveness with which such information is used is one of the prime factors that determine the success or failure of any initiative within an Organization.
Information is the key to everything an Organization does, from Stakeholder management to defining business focus to information exchange among team members. It’s probably the most vital input for individuals, teams and projects to succeed in their day-day activities.
I am not sure if such a practice already exist or under discussion but I do see the ability of information to influence decisions and actions every single day. While my intention is never to underestimate the term "Information" in general, according to me having an abstract Governance framework/model or at-least best practice guidelines to monitor, manage, and steer information flow within an organization might not be such a bad idea.
I am sure many of my peers here have the same or different opinion on the need for Information Governance; it will be great to know your opinion or thoughts in this context.
Saving Changes...
Sort By:
Elizabeth HarrinDirector| RebelsGuideToPM.comLondon, England, United Kingdom
For me, information governance means controlling information so that it's only available to the people who need it. In healthcare, that's particularly important because it's often people's personal medical records.
We have strict information governance policies including access controls to systems, mandatory training and lots more. I think my definition of information governance is different to yours but there is certainly a need for the practice. Saving Changes...
Like Elizabeth, I tend to see governance and think in terms of controlling or limiting information rather than sharing and facilitating - but that's semantics and perhaps not the question you're really asking.
Information is variously formal, informal, recorded, and unrecorded. Focusing on what your project, team, or organization needs can help identify whether a formal structure is needed or not.
Scrum is one project management tool that I think provides an interesting and useful structure for sharing of information through regular and defined meetings designed for the specific purpose of sharing information.
Saving Changes...
David KnottPlanning Support Director| GlaxoSmithKlineMarlow, Bucks, United Kingdom
In my experience, a lot of organisations don't treat information and data as an asset, its seen as "IT's problem". Leading organisations are waking up to the need to look after their information, nurture it and protect it appropriately. Trouble is, the term "governance" implies bureaucracy and big brother oversight... Perhaps it needs rebranding to make the concept more palatable! Saving Changes...
Thanks Elizabeth, Catherine and David for sharing your thoughts, When I read what I wrote I had the very same doubts on the term "Information Governance" which almost every time falls in the context of;
-Data Protection/Security
-Organization/Industry policies concerned with data/infrastructure handling
and other related domains....
I also agree that many frameworks like SCRUM,PMP, PRINCE2 and others do cover context relevant information handling guidelines to help project managers and teams with some basic set of guidelines.
Somehow I had difficulty confining "Information Governance" to "Data Protection/Security", Information is more than that, its about managing the flow of information across every practice within the functional organization but now that I think about it, information is always connected to a "context" and the context dictates how that packet of information can be best used for the greater good. Like pointed by Catherine "Information is variously formal, informal, recorded, and unrecorded" and perhaps its best that "Information Governance" is always context relevant, so lets say;
-Project Management frameworks define guidelines for handling relevant information like project data/status/communication/reports ... within and with the organization/industry.
-Information Security Governance frameworks define guidelines for handling data, security policies, systems ....
and so on......
btw: I found a nice definition of "Governance" in TOGAF 9 framework, just thought of sharing it here;
"The discipline of monitoring, managing, and steering a business (or IS/IT landscape) to deliver the business outcome required."
Whether you need information governance or not, figure it out with ROI. Here's an article that will guide you through. http://bit.ly/2cezUWZ Saving Changes...
