INSTITUTION:
Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC)
PROJECT TITLE:
Guidelines for Developing an Information Strategy
PRIMARY CONTACT:
Mrs. Ann Hughes,
JISC Information Strategies Co-ordinator
C35 Cherry Tree Buildings
The University of Nottingham
University Park
NOTTINGHAM NG7 2RD
Tel: +44 (0) 115 951 3388
Fax: +44 (0) 115 951 4791
OTHER TEAM MEMBERS:
I will work with various representatives of the following institutions:
Bath College of Higher Education
The QueenÕs University, Belfast
The University of Glamorgan
The University of Glasgow
The University of Hull
The University of North London
ATTENDING THE JULY MEETING:
Ann Hughes,
JISC Information Strategies Co-ordinator
(m.a.hughes@nottingham.ac.uk)
Fiona Crozier,
Quality Support Officer
Bath College of Higher Education
(fcrozier@bathhe.ac.uk)
Anne Davies,
Assistant Director, External Relations
Queen’s University, Belfast
(a.davies@qub.ac.uk)
Judy Evans,
Head of Management Information
University of North London
(j.evans@unl.ac.uk)
ALSO ON THE PROJECT TEAM (but not attending July meeting):
Arthur Allison,
Vice-Principal, Information Services,
University of Glasgow
(arthur@dcs.gla.ac.uk)
Lynne Gornall,
IS Advisor
University of Glamorgan
(lgornall@glam.ac.uk)
Richard Heseltine,
Director of Academic Services
University of Hull
(r.g.heseltine@lib.hull.ac.uk)
EXPERIENCE:
In December 1995 the Joint Information Systems Committee of the UK Higher Education Funding Councils published a document entitled Guidelines for Developing an Information Strategy. Subsequently six pilot institutions were selected to work through the Guidelines in developing their own Information Strategies. The institutions (listed above) were selected for their enthusiasm and commitment to the project, but also to reflect the diversity of institutions within UK Higher Education. The sites commenced work on the project in June 1996 and it was anticipated that they would take approximately one year to complete the six stages outlined in the Guidelines. By this time they would have an ‘embryonic strategy’.
In July 1996 I commenced work as Co-ordinator of the Project, liaising with the pilot sites, helping them to learn from each other, and disseminating their experiences to the wider HE Community.
The Guidelines describe six stages in the development of an information strategy:
The Set-Up
Setting the Context
Defining Information Needs
Defining Roles and Responsibilities
Implementation
Monitoring and Review
The pilot sites are currently coming towards the end of the Defining Information Needs stage and should have completed the first cycle by the end of July 1997. It should be noted that ‘Implementation’ in this context does not refer to a system implementation but rather to a process of awareness raising, change management programmes, assessment of potential projects and project management.
The period from August 1997 will involve the pilot sites in working with their own Information Strategies, undertaking the selected projects, and monitoring the results. In addition we will complete our review of the Guidelines and decide what amendments and/or additions need to be made. It is hoped also to publish the experiences of the pilot sites as a series of Case Studies.
As part of the evaluation we shall be looking particularly at the differences in the methods of development, the information strategies themselves and their effects, as compared between the different sizes, histories, structures and management styles of the pilot sites.
INTEREST:
Although it may be thought that the work of the pilot sites on their Information Strategies will be largely completed by the time of this initiative, it will, in one sense, just be beginning. The JISC Guidelines take the view that an Information Strategy is ‘a set of attitudes’ or a way of working, and as such it is the changing practices of the organisation which are of perhaps greatest interest. Involvement with this initiative will help to provide a focus for the pilot sites to continue their efforts; will widen their, and other UK institutions,’ access (through me) to other institutions following similar or adjacent paths; and will enable the initiative to benefit from the experiences of a range of UK institutions through one contact point.
It is not yet possible to be precise about the projects which the pilot sites will prioritise for development later this year. However the processes they have been undertaking to develop their information strategies have placed heavy emphasis on identifying information needs in terms of the institutionÕs overall mission; and issues of information policy, standards, custodianship and sharing are almost certain to be included. The pilot sites may find themselves resource constrained in the development of some of the projects; however the higher profile which involvement in this initiative would entail may enable them to obtain better deals with suppliers and/or a higher priority within the institution itself.
In evaluating the experiences of the pilot sites, I shall be looking for indications of the benefits they are achieving due to their information strategies. Many of these will be difficult to quantify and may only become apparent over a period of time. However, I hope that during the period August 1997 to July 1998 I shall be able to collect sufficient data to support the development of information strategies within HE Institutions.
Ann Hughes
18/4/97
