Information Governance: Points from the Professionals

Information governance (IG) is becoming more and more critical to any organization’s success in controlling the sheer mass of data generated in the ordinary course of business.  However, determining the best ways to get information under control has many organizations at a standstill, with too many organizations only enacting IG practices after disaster strikes.

To highlight the importance of developing effective IG programs, the Information Governance Initiative (IGI) interviewed a number of IG practitioners in differing industries and recently published two reports.  Stories in Information Governance: The IGI 2015 Benchmarking Report and the accompanying document, Information Governance: Tips from the Trenches, compile valuable expert insight and practitioner tips to help any organization evaluate and cultivate an IG program. Across both resources, a couple central themes emerged:

Secure Support for Information Governance

Selling a program meant to protect against a vague, future threat is undoubtedly a challenge, but securing executive support and funding is essential for success. Using mock scenarios to test your program’s strengths and weaknesses, calculating the costs of inaction and consulting an outside expert can help win over a tough crowd and jumpstart an IG program or revive an old one.

Integrate Information Governance into the Entire Organization, not just a Single Department

By coordinating IG throughout the whole organization, end users will learn to think of information as belonging to the organization as whole, not just one department’s problem. For example, creating a senior IG role and developing an IG council of interdepartmental players can optimize the effectiveness of a program.  Further, exploring technology options that can automate as many processes as possible and eliminate end-user variability can make for a streamlined, cost-effective integration of IG policies and procedures into your organization.

Look for Smart Solutions to Challenging Information Governance Problems

Encountering roadblocks while starting and running an IG program is par for the course; don’t shy away from creative solutions. Proactive and creative planning gives you the chance to highlight the value of a strong IG program and garner support from key stakeholders. For example, leveraging versatile technology used to address one problem for other purposes can help stretch a limited budget. Rather than fixating on short-term hang ups, utilizing resources and finding a balance between completing current projects and achieving long-term goals will create a strong IG core at the heart of every project.