ARMAzonan Spring 2017 | Page 34

10 STEPS TO CREATE A SOLID INFORMATION GOVERNANCE STRATEGY

10 STEPS TO CREATE A SOLID INFORMATION GOVERNANCE STRATEGY

In this two-part series , you ' ll learn about how an effective information governance strategy manages data in a holistic and well-defined way . It ' s an essential part of your organization ' s data management plan that will effectively share information and create a culture of integration between departments , systems , and disciplines . But setting up a framework to work for your particular organization can be overwhelming .
Here Are The Ten Steps You Need To Take To Create A Solid Information Governance Strategy
1 ) Establish An Advisory Committee - Assemble a team of people across the organization — from IT to legal to customer support — that will oversee strategy objectives , a project plan , and implementation timeline . You ’ ll get ideas from across the board and can ensure each role and responsibility is considered every step of the way .
2 ) Know What You Have To Do - Determine regulatory requirements before starting your information governance journey . That way , you ’ ll know what is mandatory and can keep directives in mind when looking at data security and strategy options .
3 ) Evaluate What You Have - Look at current content types , models , search functions and collection methods . Your existing information architecture will determine
where you can go and what you can do , so it ’ s essential to wrap your mind around what you have right off the bat .
4 ) Determine Content Flow - Your content is already created , used , managed and deleted in specific ways . Take a step back and evaluate what ’ s working and what isn ’ t so you can create a functional system . If you already have an IG system in place , consider its effectiveness across departments and in daily workflow .
5 ) Plan , Plan , Plan - At this point , it ’ s time to get into the weeds with the committee you ’ ve created . Whether you ’ re starting from scratch or revamping your current system , you can ’ t afford to just “ wing it .” Analyze what you know and determine policies and procedures . And consider the reality and practicality of new processes and methods .
6 ) Define A Strategy - Make sure you ’ re creating a strategy with a holistic approach to the organization . Create a formal document that determines authority , policies , processes and visibility throughout the information lifecycle — and be specific .
7 ) Invest In Infrastructure - The proper IG solution should automate and identify , categorize and store information . You need to acquire the tools and expertise that will create business value and increase IT efficiency , as well as an outside perspective in how you can effectively organize information . 34