1 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction IMARK How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction © FAO 2005

2 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction Learning Objectives identify some significant areas of change in your information environment; be aware of several information activities especially requiring effective decisions.

3 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction Introduction This question is the focus of our examination of the information management environment. How to invest in information for development?

4 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction As a manager, you deal on a daily basis with information-related issues: Introduction Audience(s) needs Effective dissemination Resources availability Coordination of activities Flexibility to adapt to the new information environment

5 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction Introduction The information environment is constantly changing. Here are some examples: Investments in information must take into account these changes. …we need to explore new ways to promote two-way information flows using digital technologies the information environment is more crowded than before… now we have to define our role more carefully the information environment is more crowded than before… now we have to define our role more carefully...

6 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction We can think about these changes under two main categories: Significant changes to the information environment Changes in INFORMATION MANAGEMENT Changes in INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

7 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction Changes in information management A significant change in information management: the increase in the quantity of information on agricultural development The principal components of this increase are: The growing number of academically oriented journals (printed and digital) and books Information made available through electronic means, particularly the world wide web. 1 2

8 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction Changes in information technology Changes in information technology open up new opportunities as well as new issues, such as: The ways you acquire, process and disseminate information How other organizations use information technology The technologies your audience(s) have access to The durability of investments in information technology

9 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction Management and change These changes affect significantly the key areas below: PEOPLE ORGANIZATION TECHNOLOGY CONTENT

10 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction Making effective choices How can you develop your organizations information-related activities to meet these changes? The challenge will be to choose in which of the many possibilities to invest.

11 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction A common scenario Lets see what kind of issues a manager in an agricultural organization might face during his daily activities. Mr. Kibaka is Director of the Information Division at the Ministry of Agriculture. He has been asked to lead a project to develop the information activities of the Ministrys local offices.

12 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction A common scenario These are the main categories of activities that he must consider: Strategic planning Information access Information dissemination Organization and Management Evaluation

13 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction A common scenario....we should find a way to plan, and coordinate all the information-related activities...and to guide staff and other stakeholders in managing them... Concerning strategic planning, he says:

14 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction A common scenario and about Information Access, his staff raises numerous issues: It has become difficult for anyone to keep track of all information of relevance to a particular agricultural issue… It is hard to assess the quality of much of this information.. There is more scientific literature, in paper or electronic format, but prices have risen too high!!

15 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction A common scenario Another member of staff identifies a further area of concern:...we also need to look at the way we currently disseminate the information we produce the technologies used by some of our audiences have changed, and the media we use now for dissemination might not be appropriate anymore...

16 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction A common scenario Then Mr Kibaka considers the way the organization is currently working. ….we need to identify the key activities and the necessary resources….and we need to think about options for motivating and retaining skilled staff... How is Mr. Kibaka going to assign responsibilities and motivate staff?

17 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction A common scenario...and we need to keep in mind evaluation... It will be important to find ways to assess if the outcome of our activities match our intended objectives.... Finally, Mr. Kibaka considers one more issue:

18 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction INFORMATION STRATEGY INFORMATION ACCESS INFORMATION DISSEMINATION ORGANIZATION & MANAGEMENT EVALUATION OF AN INFORMATION PROJECT Conclusions It is important to conduct an analysis of these activities in order to make effective investments in information for development.

19 of 19 How to invest in Information for Development An Introduction The main changes to the broad information environment include: -changes in information management; -changes in information technology. These changes will especially affect four key areas, both in the internal and external environment: People, Content, Technology, Organization. As a manager, you have to make effective decisions in those key areas, and also in the following activities: Information Strategy, Access, Dissemination, Organization and Management, Evaluation. Summary