Information Strategy
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The Features of an Information Strategy
IMARK
Investing in Information for Development
Information Strategy
The Features of an
Information Strategy
© FAO 2005
Information Strategy
The Features of an Information Strategy
Learning Objectives
define what an Information Strategy is;
recognize the relation between the
different types of strategy in organizations;
be aware of the benefits of doing an
Information Strategy.
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Information Strategy
The Features of an Information Strategy
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Introduction
A well planned Information Strategy is
extremely important to the health of any
organization.
In fact, major challenges for any organization are:
to adapt to external transformation; and
to plan for the future.
Information Strategy
The Features of an Information Strategy
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What is strategic about Information
We can talk about an “Information Strategy” because information has
strategic significance:
Without
information, your
staff and
stakeholders will
not know what
they need to do.
It guides
decisions, and
particularly the
important ones that
impact in the
future.
It is a fast changing
area of work with
many new
opportunities, which
can imply substantial
investment.
Information Strategy
The Features of an Information Strategy
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What is an Information Strategy?
A strategy is a deliberate and planned approach
to achieving a vision for the future.
(based on sustainable features and resources of the
organization).
It should start from objectives and
describe ways of achieving them.
These objectives should be measurable.
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The Features of an Information Strategy
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What is an Information Strategy?
What are the properties of an Information Strategy?
It deals with the direct information needs of the organization.
It offers a framework with a direction and priorities to guide staff
and stakeholders in managing the information-related activities.
It is the basis for planning, managing and evaluating informationrelated activities over a significant period of time.
It is formalized and presented as a document.
It will need to be reconsidered after 2 years
Information Strategy
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The Features of an Information Strategy
The strategy document
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
How should the strategy
document look like?
Typically, it should be concise and
should contain these sections:
BACKGROUND
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
OPTIONS
OUTPUTS
REQUIREMENTS
CONCLUSIONS
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Information Strategy
The Features of an Information Strategy
The strategy document
You should make sure that the strategy document:
ACHIEVES ITS PURPOSE
IS AIMED AT THE RIGHT AUDIENCE
IS IN THE RIGHT FORM
IS PRODUCED COST EFFECTIVELY
LOOKS GOOD
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Information Strategy
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The Features of an Information Strategy
Relation between the Information Strategy and the Overall Strategy
How does your Information
Strategy relate to the
overall strategy
of your organization?
The Information Strategy should not
be an independent entity:
it should be related to the goals
and activities of the organization.
OVERALL
(CORPORATE)
STRATEGY
Subsidiar
y
strategy
Subsidiary
strategy
Subsidiar
y
strategy
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Relation between the Information Strategy and the Overall Strategy
If your organization has an overall strategy, you can identify:
through the Overall Strategy:
the information activities needed to achieve its general objectives.
through the Information strategy:
• the dynamics of how such work is to be managed; and
• how the different activities relate to each other.
The Information Strategy is an essential link between the broader
strategic goals and the more detailed information-related processes.
Information Strategy
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The Features of an Information Strategy
Relation between the Information Strategy and the Overall Strategy
If your organization does not have an overall strategy in a formal
sense, you can use other sources of policy which you can draw from,
such as:
Five-Year Plan
for Agriculture
National
agricultural policy(ies)
Your own
organization’s
policy documents
Statements from your
Director General or
Chief Executive
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The Features of an Information Strategy
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Developing an appropriate Information Strategy
An Information Strategy should
provide a framework for
procedures and processes related
to an organization’s information
activities and needs.
Here are three categories of
problems found in many
organizations, that an appropriate
Information Strategy can address...
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The Features of an Information Strategy
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Developing an appropriate Information Strategy
1
2
CAPACITY
ISSUES
POOR
INTEGRATION
3
INAPPROPRIATE
SYSTEMS
e.g. Limitations in human resources may
restrict options for the development of
information products and services.
Poor integration of the various information
systems may lead to problems such as
duplication of information activities.
Limitations in information systems may
also restrict options for the development of
information products.
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The Features of an Information Strategy
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Developing an appropriate Information Strategy
An Information Strategy can help resolve these problems,
with the following outcomes:
IMPROVED
CAPACITY
BETTER
INTEGRATION
APPROPRIATE
SYSTEMS
Identification of Critical Gaps;
Basis for Resource Allocation.
Coordination of roles and responsibilities;
Common purpose amongst management.
Basis for Operational Decisions;
Improved Information Exchange.
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The Features of an Information Strategy
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The benefits of doing an Information Strategy
A good Information Strategy should be of direct practical benefit:
TO YOU
TO YOUR
STAFF
TO YOUR
ORGANIZATION
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The Features of an Information Strategy
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The benefits of doing an Information Strategy
Other potential benefits of an effective Information Strategy are:
it can make evaluation easier
it is an excellent way of making stakeholders more involved.
Information Strategy
The Features of an Information Strategy
Summary
• An Information Strategy is a deliberate
and planned approach
to achieving a vision for the future.
• It offers a framework with a direction
and priorities which can guide staff and
other stakeholders in managing their
various information-related activities.
• It provides a link between the overall strategy and
the handling of information on a daily basis.
• If your Information Strategy is good, it should be of
direct practical benefit to you, to your staff, and to
your organization.
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