The Advantages Of Taking A Holistic Approach
Following the approach outlined within this infoKit will help ensure that the management of information created within your institution is consistent, proportionate and fit for purpose.
It is not dependent on the installation of expensive new technology nor does it assume that all information will be captured and managed in a single place by a single system. Instead it seeks to provide a conceptual framework which can be applied whenever and wherever a new system or process is to be introduced, or as part of a review of the management of information created by existing systems and processes.
The following table illustrates some of the key advantages of managing information via the lifecycle method and how they are realised
| Advantage | How? |
| Consistency | By following a common model and addressing the same fundamental questions, this approach ensures a consistency in the way in which information is managed regardless of the particular system it is created by. |
| Inclusiveness | This approach is equally as useful when considering the management of ephemeral information and raw data as it is formal business records. It also applies regardless of the format of the information, be it electronic or hard copy. |
| Pro-activeness | Following the model requires you to look to the future and what the management implications for a particular type of information are likely to be in the months and years ahead, as well as those you face now. This helps you to forward plan and avoid unpleasant surprises. |
| Proportionality | It is up to the user to decide which elements of the lifecycle model are relevant to the information concerned and to their individual circumstances. It does not seek to impose a heavy management burden (and cost) where such measures are not warranted and where a more lightweight approach is called for. |
| Flexibility | Because of the generic nature of the model it is not dependent upon any particular technology. Its approach is likely to be equally valid as and when new technologies emerge, thus further demonstrating the advantage of consistency. The way in which the model's recommendations need to be enacted will inevitably vary from system to system and process to process, but the underlying principles on which they are founded will remain constant. |
