Portal:IMSMA NG Administration/Information Management

Information management is conceptualized in a cyclic order, rather than as a linear process. A cycle allows for feedback and alteration throughout its implementation.

A strategic plan of action is the starting point. It should reflect the way in which resources will be used to answer future needs for information.

Organization and coordination of the information management activities must be arranged in accordance with certain policies and in achievement of clearly defined objectives. For example, selected data collection sources, methods and trials must be properly chosen.

All procedural steps should be clearly understood by all stakeholders. It is important that they are flexible enough to allow for alterations if they do not meet needs. The controlling and monitoring processes assess progress against the plan of action. It should produce useful feedback for the adjustment of procedural guidelines inherent to the data collection sources, methods and trials.

Finally, if data is not used nor disseminated it becomes useless. Relevance, timeliness and accuracy are the three principles that should guide usage and provision of information.