Page 294 - DLIS402_INFORMATION_ANALYSIS_AND_REPACKAGING

Unit 14: Information Planning and Management

Institutions have developed plans for information technology since the mid-1970s (Information Notes
Technology and Systems Plans). The Management of Information Technology policy continues this
requirement with the added emphasis on establishing government-wide directions. This policy
refers to “Information Management Plans”, a change in name that reflects progress made by
institutions implementing information management and that challenges other institutions to move
forward. As these plans are fundamental to ensuring that institutions are able to meet future
operational requirements, they should be designed to meet each institution’s specific needs and
tailored to its particular circumstances. They are also critical for the Treasury Board Secretariat to
fulfil its role to provide government-wide leadership and coordination.

14.4.2 Government Information Management Infrastructure
An evolving infrastructure to plan and coordinate the government’s information-based resources in
an effective and efficient manner. This infrastructure comprises:
• central agencies with responsibility for overall management or for policy in specific areas;
• common service organizations that have been assigned responsibility to provide a particular
support service or control function to all institutions;
• organizations that have legislative or delegated responsibility for specific functions affecting
government information management (referred to as lead agencies);
• committees and other groups providing advice and feedback in particular areas of informa-
tion management to an organization in one of the previous three categories; and
• individual institutions that are responsible for coordinating and managing the information-
based resources supporting the delivery of their programs.

14.4.3 Government Direction
The government has adopted the following principles as the basis for the successful implementation
of information management:
• information management is an essential tool to support, improve and enhance each
organization’s ability to fulfil its mission and deliver its programs and services by the innova-
tive application of information technology;
• information holdings and information technology are complementary aspects of the manage-
ment of information-based resources;
• people are a key factor in successful information management and, therefore, consultation
and communication are essential, and education and training are viewed as assets;
• it is essential that senior managers be involved in setting information management directions
and goals;
• information-based resources are substantial investments and valuable corporate assets that
need to be managed at the corporate level; and
• the market value of government information products and services is a factor to be consid-
ered in their management.

14.4.4 Comparison to Special–Purpose Applications

Advantages
The fundamental advantage of ERP (Enterprise resource planning) is that integrating the myriad
processes by which businesses operate saves time and expense. Decisions can be made more quickly

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