Importance of Information management to organizational management

Importance of Information management to organizational management

Information management has become a vital part of organizations. Companies have invested heavily in the information management sector to improve organizational performance. Modern technology such as computers and the internet have changed information management, making it easy to collect, store, analyze, and disperse information leading to efficiency in companies.

According to Romney and Steinbart (2012), when information is appropriately managed, it makes the decision-making process easier.  The available information informs decisions. Companies without a functional information system waste so much time and energy in the decision-making process. With a properly managed information system, the organization is able to collect and analyze data that is deemed vital in decision making. When the organization information is well-governed, the information in developing a strategic plan that is used in the making informed and well-calculated decision. Both the management and employees gain access to well-analyzed information that helps in quick decision making and can result in improved productivity.

Information management helps in storing and retrieving information. Information storage has, for a long time, proven a tedious exercise for companies that do not have well-developed information management systems (Romney & Steinbart, 2012). Companies deal with a lot of data daily. With a well-elaborated information system, an organization can ease the process of storing and retrieving information, thus improving the productivity of the responsible team. A sound information management system can group data according to purpose, date, and time making it easier to store the information to the designated places as well as making it acquire the information is needed in the future. .

Information management plays a vital process in identifying and problem-solving (Romney & Steinbart, 2012). Information management promotes the organization of data. Problem-solving in an organization is a daily activity. It proves hard for management to make an informed decision in the process where there is insufficient information or when the data is disorganized. Through proper information management, it becomes easy to identify problems or incorrect data.

Consequently, the management can address the identified problems with the available information and correct any mistakes in the information. Through continuous problem solving, it reduces the chances of business running into significant problems. Information management plays a critical role in organizing data, making it easy for the organization to solve the problems, thus increasing productivity.

Information management helps organizations to get a better perspective of the business in the future. Management of information help develops better strategies that be used to make well-informed predictions. It helps the company in planning for the future by being able to forecast with the available information (Romney & Steinbart, 2012). Many companies now can predict future sales, production, marketing strategies, and so forth by using the available data. MIS now uses computer models to predict the future using the available information. These models increase efficiency as most companies are already know how to act in different situations.  Company future-oriented decisions and solve potential problems before running into them, which makes businesses more productive. Companies can concentrate on output rather than focusing on mitigating challenges that they might run into in the future.

There are unlimited benefits of well-managed information that help increase the productivity of the organization both directly and indirectly. Information management help in organizing data, storing data, analyzing data, forecasting, and so forth. With well-developed information system management, it becomes easy for organizations to make decisions and solve problems that reduce distractions from organizational operations that increase the overall productivity of the organization.

High-level system security is required for automated systems in business must be maintained as the system has to maintain a high level of confidentiality (Bourgeois & Bourgeois, 2014). In a computerized system, all important and confidential information about the company and its key stakeholders are maintained in the system. If an automated system is breached, then a lot of vital and confidential information can fall into the wrong hands, and it can result in organizational problems. Confidentiality is lost if the automated system is hacked. Essential information can be lost, which can mean the loss of confidentiality and integrity of the information system. Thus, a company must use a high-level security system to ensure the confidentiality of the information that is in the system.

According to Bourgeois & Bourgeois (2014), an automated system requires a high-security level because it is needed to provide information each day throughout the year. If the security system is not well-protected, it can result in interference with the system from unwanted persons, which hinders the ability of the system to provide services to those who need it. The data of the information system need to be received, processed, and stored in the system on a timely basis. Ensuring a high-security level system it increases the efficiency of the system, thus improving its usability. It ensures information availability to the users.

There are increases risk of information stored in an automated system, which puts the integrity of the information at greater risk (Bourgeois & Bourgeois, 2014). The integrity of information stored and disseminated in an automated system is at a higher risk from an authorized person.  It is an organizational responsibility to ensure that the system has the highest level of security.

With the current advancement in technology, organizations are exposed to a greater risk of information theft or corruption (Bourgeois & Bourgeois, 2014). Data in the system can easily be stolen by hacking or get infected with virus. Companies are therefore required to maintain the high-security level to curb these risks that impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the information.

Conclusion

Information management helps organizations improve productivity as it helps in data storage, organization of information, and timely dissemination of information, which impacts the process of decision making and problem-solving. Automation information system requires a high level of security as they are required to ensure integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the information (Bourgeois & Bourgeois, 2014).

References

Bourgeois, D., & Bourgeois, D. T. (2014). Information systems security. Information Systems for Business and Beyond.