Page 7 - Information Management 3rd Edition

CHAPTER 1
The role of information management within a business
Learning outcomes
Pre-pub
At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:
• explain the role of the information function in a business,
• explain the role of the information manager in a business,
• identify the information needs in a business,
• explain the relationship between the information function and the other
functions in a business, and
• discuss the information manager of the future.
1.2 Introduction
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There are many different views about the information function in businesses,
but the common denominator in all these views is “information”. Information
management has to do with information and the management thereof. In some
literature, this function is also referred to as “administrative management”.
Information management includes the processes and resources that are required to collect, analyse, maintain, store and retrieve information that is used in a business. It includes the storage and release of information by means of manual or computerised management information systems, as well as bookkeeping, cost accounting, archive control and general office business. The information manager is usually also responsible for effective communication, office layout, office equipment and furniture, office procedures, workflow, systems analysis and design, automation, form analysis and controlling employee relations. Information management can also be seen as managing information through people. Information is central to all management processes and people are the resources who make use of that information to add value to the business.
Managing information strategically reduces costs, reduces uncertainty or risks, adds value to existing products or services and creates new value through new information- based products or services. In most large businesses, an information manager or manager is appointed as one of the functional or middle-level managers. In some smaller businesses, the information and other functions, such as the financial function, are linked and managed by one person. There are also businesses where each function is responsible for its own administration.
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