Challenges in Information Resources Development

Visionary leaders at the University of Guam have realized the critical role of information technology in the continuous growth of the organization. Systematic acquisition of state of the art technology have allowed the university community to stay connected with the rest of the world in an otherwise isolated environment on a sparsely populated island. Despite the technical achievement in telecommunication, there is still limited understanding on the management of organizational information resources. There are a few lessons we could learn and a few challenges for organizations in cross-cultural environment. Firstly, management must develop understanding towards Information Resources Management. Secondly, management must recognize their critical role in Information Resources development. Lastly, the organization must develop appreciation for the value of Information Resources.

Information Resources as an Investment Issue

A common reaction to the deficient in organizational data is to seek capital investment for new technology, or to purchase an entire software system. The investment approach tends to neglect information resources development in areas such as system and facility maintenance, technical staff, user training and support, data architecture development, data quality assurance, and data distribution. The implementation of the information system is not matched with organizational readiness to use the system. Organizational issues become barriers in the deployment of the information system. Confusion arises as individual users are left to tackle the technology issues. Inflated expectation and unscrutinized usage of data services nullifies the value of the information system. Erratic funding pattern destroys development projects, making it extremely difficult to retain technical personnel. Poor maintenance damages equipment and threatens the integrity of the data system. Management eager to modernize without fully understanding the implications of information resources management would abandon their support for the information system under political pressure.

Information Resources Development by Delegation

Management desiring an easy fix to the organizational data problem mandated data compilation activities by the functional divisions. The practice of delegating the responsibility of data ownership to functional units has mixed results. While the capturing of data at the point of transaction is an efficient approach to acquire data, unmotivated functional managers present major obstacles to data quality assurance, and the timely distribution of data. The organizational database can never be completed without the fully cooperation of all functional managers. Turnover and retirement of administrators create further obstacles for the data development efforts. The decentralized approach to information resource management undermines the strategic role of information resources as a critical organizational asset. A huge gap remains in planning data and environmental sensing data.

Limited Appreciation for Information Resources

Information Resources can be compared to utility services, users begin to appreciate their value when there is a supply shortage. Individual managers instructed to practice data-driven decision making often underestimate the value of information. There is a need to development accountancy of the value contribution of information system, beyond periodic technical achievement. Benchmark studies should identify cost performance, as well as the proper usage of data and the strategic planning and accumulation of critical information resources within the organization.



Managing Globally with Information Technology
Managing Globally with Information Technology
ISBN: 193177742X
EAN: 2147483647
Year: 2002
Pages: 224

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