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Information Management
Basic Activities

Introduction
Information management covers the entire spectrum of activities that relate to the creation, use and disposal of data
Information management encompasses most information technology activities Also encompasses any activities that enable people to make use of data, digital or otherwise

Information management is not constrained by technology and instead is concerned with the optimizing the human benefit realized from data

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Information Workflows
Managing the information infrastructure
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Information Workflows
There are several basic workflows in information management:
Project Planning Data Management Data Integration Systems Integration

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Project Planning
Project planning includes the coordinated effort to identify what information is required for and produced by a project Includes:
Matching identified data requirements to existing data repositories Initiating efforts to create repositories for new data sets

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Data Management
Data management activities include all aspects of coordinating and optimizing the collection, discovery, use, maintenance and disposal of data

This includes:
Data modeling for new repositories Business process development to select an effective methodology for data handling from collection to disposal

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Data Integration
Data integration is the set of all activities required to:
Ensure data is discoverable Ensure related data repositories can be queried across

In multi-organizational scenarios this may include:

Development of data sharing agreements and policies

Acquisition of software tools to integrate data repositories

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Systems Integration
Systems integration workflows include:
Activities for the planning of systems development Prioritization of potential development activities Development of stand-alone tools Integration of existing tools

Guiding organizational architectures

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Business Workflows
Getting the business at hand done
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Business Workflows
Day to day business activities involve the application of Information Management
Following processes

Using supported technologies

Business operations will flow through similar phases of activities such as:
Business Phase Effort Initiation Data Standardization Data Collection Data Processing Data Analysis Information Lifecycle Phase Creation (Planning) Creation (Planning) Creation (Collection) Creation (Assessment / Ingestion) Distribution and Use

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Workflow Automation
Each business phase provides an opportunity for automation
Some automation tools may be used across multiple phases Data, tools and use are all independent yet related

Application of technology and processes to business efforts should be designed to increase the effectiveness of the personnel and data

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Information Flow
When depicted as an overall system, the flow of data products moves:
From collection Through processing To analysis Analysis results are a secondary form of collection

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Information Cycle
When viewed at a high-level, omitting the processes of initiating efforts and standardizing data, the process becomes a clear cycle

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Effort Initiation

Whenever a new work effort is undertaken, the entire planning process is within this phase The initiation phase also considers the high-level aspects of execution to the close out to ensure the effort produced the results expected

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Effort Initiation Example

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Data Standardization
Data standardization is a complex, ongoing set of processes involving project effort and organizational activities
Managing repositories and data models

Data standardization involves:

Definition of data collection standards

Definition of data repositories

Conformation to industry and organizational best practices and standard data models

If the organization is involved in the creation of data standards

Large efforts

Cross-organizational
Often cross-domain

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Data Standardization Example

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Data Collection
The process of collecting data via any means is the data collection phase of the effort
Some data collections will transcend individual efforts Data collection activities will likely involve multiple physical locations, tools and techniques

Phase processes are loosely defined to support flexibility in the field

Emphasis is on planning of data collection and the handling of data once collected

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Data Collection Example

Data collection standards are provided to the effort management team, which enables effort initiation

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Data Processing
The data processing phase includes the process of assuring data is collected:
According to defined standards Is of sufficient quality

This phase handles the entire set of processes to take raw collected data
Through the QA/QC process Perform any actions upon the data to prepare it for loading

Loading or transfer of accepted data into any and all final production repositories

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Data Processing Example

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Data Analysis
The use of data is the data analysis phase The data analysis phase includes all uses of data:
Simple visualization Report generation Numerical analysis Modeling and simulation

Creation of data inventory (catalog) entries relating created products to source data may also be included in this phase

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Data Analysis Example

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Conclusions
Information management is a complex set of activities focused on maximizing data investments
These activities primarily serve to enhance peoples experiences interacting with information

Successful information management addresses data from a human perspective

Provides cost savings to an organization by ensuring data is used effectively

The application of technology should increase the effectiveness of the organization

The consideration of effectiveness should apply to both human activities and operational costs Redundant data collection is a significant cost in both monetary and human labor The application of technology should result in a net reduction in labor or cost Effective application of technologies enables us to do more with less

Automation technology is an ongoing effort that is best initiated in-house

As a specific development effort becomes too large, it should then be contracted Integration of technologies to current and planned infrastructures should be a pre-requisite Commercial off the shelf applications should be considered based upon their ability to be integrated into the organizations infrastructure
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Questions
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