# information management

> organisational activity concerning information lifecycle

**Wikidata**: [Q579488](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q579488)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_management)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/information-management

## Summary
Information management is the organizational activity focused on the lifecycle of information, encompassing its creation, storage, retrieval, and disposal. It is a subset of information science and involves practices, tools, and systems to ensure effective handling of data across various domains, from personal use to enterprise-level operations.

## Key Facts
- Information management is classified as both an academic discipline and a type of management.
- It is a subclass of information science, which deals with the analysis, collection, classification, and dissemination of information.
- Key components include information lifecycle management, data management, and enterprise information management.
- Practitioners include information managers and information professionals.
- Related fields include knowledge management, content management, and health information management.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the primary goal of information management?
A: The primary goal of information management is to ensure that information is accurately captured, stored, retrieved, and utilized throughout its lifecycle, optimizing its value and accessibility for users and organizations.

### Q: How does information management differ from data management?
A: While data management focuses specifically on the handling of raw data as a resource, information management encompasses a broader scope, including the processing, organization, and strategic use of information in various contexts.

### Q: What are some specialized areas within information management?
A: Specialized areas include personal information management, product information management, health information management, and security information management, each tailored to specific needs and industries.

### Q: Who practices information management?
A: Information management is practiced by professionals such as information managers, librarians, computer scientists, and other information professionals who specialize in organizing and managing data and information systems.

### Q: What role does information management play in businesses?
A: In businesses, information management helps optimize the use of information for decision-making, operational efficiency, and strategic advantage, often through enterprise information management and strategic information management techniques.

## Why It Matters
Information management plays a critical role in modern society by ensuring that data and information are effectively organized, accessible, and secure. It addresses challenges such as information overload, data fragmentation, and the need for timely access to accurate information. In businesses, it enhances decision-making, improves operational efficiency, and supports compliance with regulatory requirements. In healthcare, it ensures the accurate and secure handling of patient data, while in personal contexts, it helps individuals manage their digital lives. By providing structured approaches to handling information, this discipline enables organizations and individuals to leverage data as a strategic asset, driving innovation and efficiency across various sectors.

## Notable For
- **Broad applicability**: Information management is applied across diverse fields, including healthcare, business, personal data, and cultural collections.
- **Integration with technology**: It heavily relies on and integrates with advancements in computer science, data storage, and retrieval technologies.
- **Academic and professional discipline**: Recognized as both an academic discipline and a professional practice, with dedicated roles such as information managers.
- **Specialized subfields**: Includes niche areas like Māori information and knowledge management systems, highlighting its cultural and contextual adaptability.
- **Lifecycle focus**: Unique emphasis on the entire lifecycle of information, from creation to disposal, ensuring comprehensive management.

## Body
### Definition and Scope
Information management is an organizational activity concerned with the lifecycle of information. It involves the systematic control of information resources, ensuring their accuracy, accessibility, and security. This discipline is part of the broader field of information science, which focuses on the analysis, collection, classification, and dissemination of information.

### Core Components
- **Information Lifecycle Management**: The process of administering digital data storage and applying policies for effective information management.
- **Data Management**: Disciplines related to managing data as a resource, including storage, retrieval, and analysis.
- **Enterprise Information Management**: Business discipline specializing in providing solutions for optimal use of information within organizations.
- **Strategic Information Management**: The use of information management techniques for business advantage, aligning information resources with organizational goals.

### Related Fields and Subfields
Information management intersects with several specialized fields:
- **Personal Information Management**: Tools and systems for managing one's own data.
- **Product Information Management**: Practices and tools for collecting, organizing, and acting upon the information required to market and sell products.
- **Health Information Management**: Application of information management principles to health and healthcare, ensuring the accurate and secure handling of patient data.
- **Security Information Management**: Focuses on the secure handling and protection of sensitive information, particularly in the United States.
- **Content Management**: Process of managing information or experiences built with an audience in mind, often involving digital content creation and distribution.

### Notable Figures
Several individuals have contributed significantly to the field of information management:
- **Holger Nohr**: German librarian and university teacher, born in 1961, known for his work in information science.
- **Judith Hurwitz**: American computer scientist and information scientist, born in 1951, recognized for her contributions to information management.
- **Peter Schirmbacher**: German information theorist and computer scientist, born in 1951, known for his work in information science and management.
- **Norman Paton**: British computer scientist and Professor at the University of Manchester, born in 1964, contributing to the academic and practical aspects of information management.

### Classification and Identification
Information management is classified under various identifiers and thesauri, including:
- **Library of Congress Classification**: ZA3085.5, under "Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources--Information resources (General)--Information resources management. Knowledge management."
- **Mesh Descriptor ID**: D019451, with the qualifier "Information Management."
- **GND ID**: 4114012-6, referencing the Integrated Authority File (Gemeinsame Normdatei).
- **UMLS CUI**: C0012972, referencing the Unified Medical Language System.

### Cultural and Contextual Adaptations
Information management systems can be culturally specific, as seen in the field of **Māori information and knowledge management systems**, which reflects indigenous approaches to organizing and preserving knowledge.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Information management",
  "description": "Organizational activity concerning the lifecycle of information, encompassing its creation, storage, retrieval, and disposal.",
  "url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_management",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19710514", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_management"],
  "additionalType": "AcademicDiscipline"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. BBC Things
3. YSO-Wikidata mapping project. 2024
4. UMLS 2023
5. Quora
6. FactGrid
7. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
8. KBpedia
9. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
10. Wikibase TDKIV