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Most important information management concepts key to understand the IMSMA<sup>NG </sup> information model and their impact on information management are covered here. To help information managers apply the concepts, some sections conclude with a list of requirements to define and document that can be used when establishing the information model for a programme.
==Data Types==__NOEDITSECTION__===Core Data===__NOEDITSECTION__
In the IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> information model, items are the containers for core data, such as mine action data. An item is an area, activity or event that a programme records information about and stores in IMSMA<sup>NG</sup>. There are six categories of items, which are described in the table below. Each category can be characterized by a type that reflects whether the item is designed to track process or activity information or the object or product of an activity.
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===Auxiliary Data===__NOEDITSECTION__
In addition to defining the required information for IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> items, it is important to define the relevant information to be collected about auxiliary data. This includes defining and documenting the [[Setup Country Structure Levels in a New Installation|Country Structure]], [[Access the Explosive Ordnance List Window|Explosive Ordnance]], [[Organisation List window|Organisation]] and [[Place List window|Place]], such as military bases, hospitals and cultural sites; any additional CDFs that should be created; and any subcategories for each of the auxiliary data types.
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==Data Entry Forms and Summaries==__NOEDITSECTION__
A <b>Data Entry Form</b> is a data entry form used to record and store information about an item.
Summary calculations are based on the date of the Data Entry Form, so it is possible to enter data into the system out of chronological order (that is, to collect past information about an item) without disrupting the Summary. For example, if a fourth Data Entry Form were collected and dated between Data Entry Form #1 and Data Entry Form #2, it would have no effect on the Summary as all information in the example was updated with Data Entry Form #2 or later.
===Location Folder===__NOEDITSECTION__
A location in IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> is a grouping of information, whether logical, geographical or sociopolitical. Using locations, users can group data that belongs together or is associated with each other and handle it as a group, including facilitating data entry, searching and running reports. To do this, locations must link the data to the country’s political or administrative structure (existing gazetteer), whether at the province, district or town level. This method also provides geographical context to the data. As shown in the figure below, locations in IMSMA<sup>NG</sup> are governed by two simple rules:
===Assigning and Linking===__NOEDITSECTION__
<b>Assigning</b> refers to the assignment of an item to a location for the purposes of grouping information. All items must be assigned a location.
===The Workbench===__NOEDITSECTION__
Items, Data Entry Forms, Summaries, assigning and linking come together at the Workbench. The Workbench is a holding area where users enter data into Data Entry Forms and reconcile each item in the Data Entry Form either as a new item or as an update to an existing item. Users have the ability to assign Data Entry Form items to locations and to link items to other items (like linking a technical survey to an existing CHA). They then save the reports in the Workbench pending the appropriate quality checks and approvals.
