Information Resource Management


Information Resource Management

(IRM) A philosophical and practical approach to managinggovernment information. Information is regarded as a valuableresource which should be managed like other resources, andshould contribute directly to accomplishing organisationalgoals and objectives. IRM provides an integrated view formanaging the entire life-cycle of information, fromgeneration, to dissemination, to archiving and/or destruction,for maximising the overall usefulness of information, andimproving service delivery and program management.

IRM views information and Information Technology as anintegrating factor in the organisation, that is, the variousorganisational positions that manage information arecoordinated and work together toward common ends. Further,IRM looks for ways in which the management of information andthe management of Information Technology are interrelated, andfosters that interrelationship and organisational integration.

IRM includes the management of (1) the broad range ofinformation resources, e.g., printed materials, electronicinformation, and microforms, (2) the various technologies andequipment that manipulate these resources, and (3) the peoplewho generate, organise, and disseminate those resources.Overall the intent of IRM is to increase the usefulness ofgovernment information both to the government and to thepublic.

[Gary D. Blass et al. "Finding Government Information: TheFederal Information Locator System (FILS)", GovernmentInformation Quarterly, JAI Press, Inc., Greenwich,Connecticut. Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 11-32. 1991].