Briefing: Information Management Best Practices: Working With IT

Although many synergies and lots of overlap exist between information management (IM) and information technology (IT) functions, they seem to speak different dialects, if not entirely different languages. For the good of the enterprise and the user, it's time to bridge the gap. This Briefing addresses the concerns of information managers who want to know how to better work and communicate with their IT counterparts. It provides an overview of the chief information officer (CIO) function and its challenges and "hot buttons," as well as the typical roles and departments within IT organizations. With unique Outsell benchmark data about information management functions, the Briefing also makes the case that IM and IT roles are increasingly overlapping, describes the pros and cons of IM functions that report to IT, and provides examples of how the two functional areas are learning to communicate. Imperatives for information managers include learning the language of IT; serving as a partner and a peer to IT, not a client; learning what IT's issues are and finding ways to assist; and playing to an IM strength by leveraging knowledge of users.