Today’s organisations are information driven. As a critical and strategic asset, management of information requires leadership and action at Board level. In February 2019, a consortium of CILIP, KPMG, CIO Connect, and IK SpringBoard (supported by the Network for Information and Knowledge Exchange) published “Information as an Asset – Today’s Board Agenda”. This reinforces Board responsibilities for leading their organisation’s information vision, strategy, policies and governance.  It is intended as a wake up call and updates the pivotal Hawley report (1995) with its agenda for Board action, highly relevant to today. Hence, its subtitle: 'rediscovering gold'. #cilipconf19

1. Information as an ASSET
Today’s Board Agenda
Dr Sandra Ward
Beaworthy Consulting
3rd July 2019
CILIP Conference, Manchester

2. Firstly thanks to colleagues who
contributed to Today’s Board Agenda
 The Chartered Institute of Information Professionals (CILIP) represented by
Nick Poole, CEO and Karen McFarlane, CMG, CILIP trustee, previously Chair
of CILIP.
 KPMG, the global network of professional services firms providing audit, tax and
advisory services represented by Ceri Hughes, Head of Learning and
Oliver Rolfe, Director, Head of Knowledge.
 CIO Connect, an advisory service for UK CIOs and technology leaders
represented by Alistair Russell, Director of Consultancy.
 IK SpringBoard, a group represented by Stuart Ward.
 Denise Carter, DCision Consult, and Chair of CILIP’s K&IM SIG.
 Stephen Phillips, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley, and K&IM SIG.
 Sandra Ward, Beaworthy Consulting, and K&IM SIG.
9th July 2019 Information as an Asset: Today's Board Agenda

3. The Hawley report:
 Intended as a wake-up call to their peers – a recipe for Board Action. Written by leaders
for leaders!
 Based on inputs including interviews with C-suite executives and equivalents across a
range of private and public sector organisations and academic bodies, and desk research;
 Recognised the importance of viewing information as a cross-organisational asset;
 Proposed that all information should be properly identified for consideration as an asset
of the business and assets should be prioritized by their potential value;
 Understood the competitive differentiation possible with good information management
and governance; and the need for relevant skills to manage assets;
 Anticipated the impact of technological revolution on information storage and access and
the potential for misuse, loss and abuse;
 Assigned the board responsibilities for the information needed for their own operations;
 Challenged the board to ensure a clear IM vision, strategy and a framework of
information responsibilities with actions assigned to all levels of staff.
9th July 2019 Information as an Asset: Today's Board Agenda

4. Drivers shaping today’s
information agenda
 Increasing capability of information systems to derive value from information assets
– AI, Machine Learning, Robotics, Virtual reality …...
 Rapid growth in the volume and range of information assets that are available to
organisations – big data - internet of things – connected devices……..
 Interconnection accelerating capability to discover and share information assets
ever more flexibly and rapidly; the potential power of information
integration…external and internal data sets …..
 The need to protect information assets in this more connected and open world….
 The socio-political context now heightening recognition of the value of personal
data, prompting new regulation and legislation - and suspicion;
 The sheer power of information means today’s information environment is
becoming more and more complex.
9th July 2019 Information as an Asset: Today's Board Agenda

5. The stakes for information
management are rising
 Information growth won’t stop - 90% of the world’s data was created in the past two
years.
 The complexity of day to day operations and challenges to survival means pressures for
excellent Information Management are growing:
 Compliance with data laws and regulations requires information to be managed across its
lifecycle;
 To be competitive, organisations need agility, creativity, and to differentiate themselves.
 Agility requires organisations which know their information and can trust and use it
effectively;
 Creativity is stimulated when information can be integrated across the organisation;
 Differentiation requires better understanding of customers, competitors, capability and the
organisation’s information base;
 Operational efficiency is even more critical and depends on information flows fully
integrated with business functions.
 The operational environment is becoming more and more challenging; responsibility for
information management must be owned from the top of the organisation.
9th July 2019 Information as an Asset: Today's Board Agenda

6. Today’s Board Agenda:
• We want our report to be a wakeup call for the C suite senior
managers and their Board directors. Those of us who work
with information don’t need to be convinced that it’s vital to the
success of any organisation, large or small. But many
information professionals truggle to convince those at the top of
our employers of the need to place information at the heart of
business strategy and operations.
• ‘Information as an Asset- Today’s Board Agenda’ presents
useful, and we hope, convincing
arguments/evidence/ammunition for influencing leaders in the
form of an agenda for Board action.
9th July 2019 Information as an Asset: Today's Board Agenda

7. Boards must be:
1. Certain the information they use is sufficient and essential for
purpose;
2. Able to access and trust all information and evidence needed, when
they need it;
3. Assured their use complies with all laws and regulations;
4. Determined to maintain awareness of developments in Information
Management and respond to new opportunities.
They must also be accountable for the relevance and currency of
organisational strategy, policies and activity:
5. Establish the organisation’s Strategy for Information Management;
6. Assess and approve the organisation’s Information Policy;
7. Ensure a clear Framework of Responsibilities for information and its
management that works throughout their organisation;
8. And have the capability to do so.
9th July 2019 Information as an Asset: Today's Board Agenda

8. The elements of an
fully integrated
Information Management
Policy and Operational
Framework.
9th July 2019 Information as an Asset: Today's Board Agenda

9. The Board’s Checklist
You know where all your information and data
is held?
The organisation has assessed which
information is strategically important (and
which not)?
You have access to objective, accurate, and
current information to support effective
decisions?
You consider information related risks as part
of all investment decisions and business plans?
You always seize opportunities for innovation
that leverage developments in IM and never
fall behind competitors?
An information strategy is in place and policies
and processes are established?
You realise the potential from collaboration
with partners, suppliers and customers to
share and use information?
Accountability and responsibilities are defined;
the right people and skills are in place?
Your organisational culture fosters effective
information behaviours and creativity?
You have robust oversight and governance to
ensure regulatory and legal compliance and
internal good practice?
You have technologies and processes in place
that allow you to leverage information for
competitive advantage?
Information standards enable integrated
information and access across the
organisation?
You regularly reap the benefits from exploiting
information assets?
You never miss opportunities, risk corporate
embarrassment, or fall behind competitors by
deficiencies in information management?
9th July 2019 Information as an Asset: Today's Board Agenda

10. A story to prove the point:
In January, the Western Morning News (23rd January ) ran an article advising small independent businesses on
dealing with change - with Brexit in mind.
• “Make sure your business is as strong and organised as it can be
from within. Get on top of your information. Ensure you have a
clear, current and accurate understanding of your market,
customers and competitors. Develop the skills of your staff at
all levels.”
• “Senior management that feels in control of the nuts and
bolts of the business will be in the best position to enter into
new enterprises with confidence. A business with strong
foundations copes well with change”.
We know that Information Assets are the linchpin of those
foundations!
9th July 2019 Information as an Asset: Today's Board Agenda

11. Action isn’t stopping!
Information & Knowledge
Springboard (IKSB) Project
Aims to:
 Consult widely and involve interested organisations
 Extend the thinking to knowledge and data
 Develop Guidance and Measurement tools to aid implementation
Next steps?
 We are building a list of interested organisations
 We have detailed plans for a Launch Workshop (full day at a London location)
 We are working on building a team of sponsors and supporters
Please email us if you are interested: info@ikspringboard.com
9th July 2019 Information as an Asset: Today's Board Agenda

12. Information as an ASSET
Today’s Board Agenda
Thank you.