TABLE OF CONTENTS Matthew Hinton
The role of information is so important that there is a new function emerging the Information Management Function. This function is concerned with all aspects of managing information within organizations. However, the growth in the use of information technology (IT) has meant that many people confuse information management with the management of information technology. While this is an important aspect of the information management function, it tells only part of the story. Information management (IM) is broader than this and should be seen as the conscious process by which information is gathered and used to assist in decision making at all levels of an organization.
Organizations create specialized functions when a specialized expertise is required. The use of information and communication technologies is so pervasive that a certain level of expertise must be distributed broadly across the organization. Individuals and workgroups within the other organizational functions may have significant responsibility for their own information management activities or local systems involving information technology. However, the information management function has responsibility for maintaining expertise sufficient to assist individuals, groups and other functions in their information management to provide integration across the organization and build and maintain the corporate information infrastructures necessary for integrated information processes. The same concept can be observed in other functions. For example, budgeting and analysis of financial results must be applied by many...
