The Relevance of Information Strategies

Although the information strategies work was influential on practice in higher education a sample of information strategies showed that the interpretation of the concept differed widely in the sector. However, for the last two years UCISA members in their annual survey have placed 'IT Strategy and Planning' at number 2 within their top 10 concerns. The entry for 2008-09 stating: 'The IT/IS strategy needs to be aligned to the institution's strategic objectives and its plans for achieving those objectives. The IT/IS strategy must be complementary to the other strategies that underpin and deliver the institution's strategic objectives (for example Academic, Human Resources, Estates and Enterprise)'

The importance of taking a strategic approach to information and information technology and integrating it with other areas of an institution's strategic activity resonates strongly with the concept promoted by the JISC information strategies work. A JISC study into the strategic planning of ICT in Universities and colleges (JISC 2006) concluded:

The technologies have become ubiquitous, and reach all parts of institutional business. Managers in the sector often think in terms of 'information' or 'knowledge' not IT or ICT, which suggests that the (information) resources, products and processes - rather than technology and systems - need to be the object of strategy formulation and implementation'.

This is encouraging as there is often a tendency for institutions to be preoccupied with information technology, which is tangible and has definitive costs implications, at the expense of taking a holistic and co-ordinated approach to all information that is created and used within the institution.

The same study suggests that this type of shift in thinking of ICT as a utility in the strategic planning process could encourage greater focus within institutions on the creative 'what' and 'to whom' issues rather than on the technology and delivery mechanisms.

In a recent report to the Secretary of State of DIUS Sir Ron Cooke highlighted that for Higher Education to be at the forefront of research and learning and teaching in the world it needs to enjoy and exploit world class ICT infrastructure tailored to meet the needs of the HE institution and its students and staff. In order to do this senior management need to be supported and encouraged to develop institutional information strategies against individual missions and that this should include the integration of their library, information and IT services in the development of their strategies for research and learning and teaching (Cooke 2008).