(IRM) A philosophical and practical approach to managing
government information. Information is regarded as a valuable
resource which should be managed like other resources, and
should contribute directly to accomplishing organisational
goals and objectives. IRM provides an integrated view for
managing the entire life-cycle of information, from
generation, to dissemination, to archiving and/or destruction,
for maximising the overall usefulness of information, and
improving service delivery and program management.
integrating factor in the organisation, that is, the various
organisational positions that manage information are
coordinated and work together toward common ends. Further,
IRM looks for ways in which the management of information and
the management of Information Technology are interrelated, and
fosters that interrelationship and organisational integration.
IRM includes the management of (1) the broad range of
information resources, e.g., printed materials, electronic
information, and microforms, (2) the various technologies and
equipment that manipulate these resources, and (3) the people
who generate, organise, and disseminate those resources.
Overall the intent of IRM is to increase the usefulness of
government information both to the government and to the
public.
[Gary D. Blass et al. "Finding Government Information: The
Federal Information Locator System (FILS)", Government
Information Quarterly, JAI Press, Inc., Greenwich,
Connecticut. Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 11-32. 1991].
(1995-11-12)