Larry:)

WOW!  As something that came off the top of your head, that was really well
done.

I agree with this whole-heartedly.  This one goes in my save list.

On 8/22/07, Larry Medina <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> On 8/22/07, Cunningham, Ray <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > One of the problems RIM professionals have is reminding our IT
> > colleagues the difference between IT and IM. So often senior management
> > talks to the IT people about IM while ignoring those schooled in RIM.
>
>
>
> One of the most salient discussions posed in weeks and what's troubling to
> me about it is it's posed by one of MY "go to guys" =)    I think we will
> see numerous responses to this, and few of them will be incorrect... for
> many reasons.  First, depending on the industry segment you work in, and
> the
> size and structure of your organization, there are differences.  Second,
> depending on the manner in which "information assets" are controlled
> within
> your organization (physically AND culturally), there are even more
> differences.
>
> Some Questions to ponder:
> >
> > What are the proper roles for Information Manager in a heavily automated
> > environment?
>
>
> Define "Information Manager" in this context... and more importantly,
> define
> INFORMATION.
>
> Is there an overarching organizational policy for Information Management
> that establishes what is managed by whom, and what purpose it serves?  Are
> roles clearly defined, and is a responsible party identified?  Is this
> document regularly reviewed and revised, and is it periodically issued
> under
> the signature of a CEO/ED/President with a letter reminding employees who
> the organization's information belongs to and whose responsibility it is
> to
> ensure the policy is adhered to?
>
> OR... do different parts of the organization each have THEIR OWN "policies
> and practices", either documented or undocumented, and do they consider
> the
> information they "manage" to belong solely to their part of the
> organization?
>
> How is the management of information funded?
>
> Is the program periodically audited for compliance with policy?  What
> happens if it is NOT in compliance?
>
>
> Where are the dividing lines between IT and IM?
>
>
>
> In what I would call an ideal world, IT would be responsible for the
> networks, the communication, the storage "appliances", the desktop
> equipment
> and other peripherals and ensuring the systems remain operable and
> interoperable. They would be called in to consult on their ability to
> support and deploy software that has been evaluated for use to manage
> information within the "enterprise", and they would provide input to what
> additional hardware may be required to ensure a smooth implementation and
> continued operation.
>
> They would "operate the tools to satisfy the rules" established
> organizationally for the effective management of information assets.
>
> In this same ideal world, IM would be the responsibility of a part of the
> organization that understands the business model and regulatory
> requirements
> for the environment the organization operates in.  This would include a
> knowledge of the sources receiving and generating information, how it is
> used, the regulatory requirements for managing and retaining it, and the
> internal relationships between operating entities within the enterprise.
> There would be representatives from different facets of the organization
> utilized to gather the various requirements, analyze usage patterns and
> business processes that involve information sources. Risks would be
> identified related to issues such as privacy, confidentiality, and
> criticality of various information assets, and rights to access and
> "permissions" would be set to ensure proper availability to the right
> people, in the right amount of time.
>
> They would establish the rules for the effective management of information
> assets for the organization. They would also set the SLOs and SLAs
> (Service
> level objectives and agreements) for IT to provide access to the
> information
> stored in their appliances.
>
> Bottom line - How do I get my senior C level executives to understand
> > the difference between IT and IM?
>
>
>
> Here's the $64,000 question.  "C level executives" hear things
> differently,
> and need to be given information in a different manner.  It has to come in
> shorter, more directly targeted bursts... and they all need too have
> a"what's in it for them" point.  They need to stop hearing  acronyms that
> can easily confuse the issue and first things first, they need to believe
> and appreciate that  INFORMATION IS NOT ALL THE SAME.   They also need to
> support the concept that information IS AN ASSET to the organization, and
> that improperly and ineffectively managing it is a LIABILITY.
>
> And for me, it's important that they understand you can buy and deploy
> Technology, but you have to establish policies, practices, processes and
> procedures to MANAGE Information.
>
> More to the point, how to I get IT out of the IM business?
>
>
>
> That's easy... take away their budget. =)  Have them submit requests to
> fund
> support efforts and provide services to meet the SLAs, and to maintain and
> manage the equipment they are responsible for.  Let hem justify staffing
> to
> meet needs and projected growth, just like everyone else in a service
> architecture does... and make sure they understand that they are NOT
> RESPONSIBLE for "managing the information", only for meeting the SLAs and
> providing access to it.
>
> What are your thoughts on this?
>
>
> That's all I've got right now...
>
> Larry
> --
> Larry Medina
> Danville, CA
> RIM Professional since 1972
>
> List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
> Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
> To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already
> present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of the
> message.
> mailto:[log in to unmask]
>

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of the message.
mailto:[log in to unmask]