Lesson 1: Introduction to Information Resource Management and System Administration

IRMSA definition can be derived by breaking up the term "information resource management" into its component parts:
Information , Resource, Management, System Administration
1. Information which can mean any of the following:
➢ Facts and details about a subject

➢ Stored knowledge - The knowledge or beliefs of workers as a part of their mental state
Types of Knowledge:
• Explicit Knowledge A knowledge which has been expressed and stored in
certain media
• Tacit Knowledge Type of knowledge which people carry on their mind and
difficult to access
2. Resource A re-usable source of supply to produce something; assets that can be drawn on by a
person or organization in order to function effectively
3. Management - A set of activities (including planning and decision making, organizing, leading
and controlling) directed at an organization’s resources (human, financial, physical, and
information) with the aim of achieving organizational goals in an efficient and effective manner.
4. System Administration -Managing and maintaining computer system (network, software and
hardware configuration) to ensure that the system is working efficiently and effectively.

Information Resource Management (IRM) is a broad term in IT that refers to the management of records or
information or data sets as a resource. This can relate to either business or government goals and objectives. Information
resource management involves identifying data as an asset, categorizing it and providing various types of active management.
Experts describe IRM as the process of managing the life cycle of data sets, from their creation to their use in IT architectures,
and on to archiving and eventual destruction of non-permanent data. The term IRM can refer to either software resources,
physical supplies and materials, or personnel involved in managing information at any stage of use.

Purpose of IRMSA:
1. To manage information efficiently and effectively in fulfilling the objectives of the firm
2. To manage information as a corporate resource, in the same way that other organizational resources such as finance,
personnel and property are managed.
3. Provides the information technology and services the Department needs to successfully carry out its mission by
applying modern IT tools, approaches, systems, and information products.
Benefits of Information Resource Management (IRM)
1. Integration of technologies, which improves the sharing of information across the organization and makes it easier to
obtain information for changing decision-making needs;
2. Assist in identification and adoption of appropriate information technology standards, minimizing dependence on
specific suppliers of hardware or software;
3. Helps in identification of opportunities to improve the relevance and adequacy of information provided and activities
performed;
4. Offers a technological infrastructure that will support the strategic business plan;
5. Helps in minimization of duplicate, and possibly inconsistent, data and processing capabilities within the
organization's portfolio of information systems;

Information Resources to be Managed

1. Information Content - measures the informativeness of an entity (data quality)
 Data – raw material
 Information – a processed data
 Knowledge Spectrum – level of skills

2. Information Technologies - the study or use of systems (especially computers and telecommunications) for
storing, retrieving, and sending information.
 Technology - The combination of skills, knowledge, computers and machines used in organization.
 More complex technology makes it harder for managers to regulate the organization
3. Information Workers – Individuals who works with computerized information extensively
Knowledge worker - Individual with skill of converting information to knowledge that become the most valued assets
of an organization.

4. Information Systems - Information Systems - focuses on the effective design, development and implementation of
information and communications technology (ICT) resources to ensure information systems

IRMSA improve the Quality of Information

1. Learn to think like an effective businessperson
2. Listen, listen, listen to the business leadership
3. Provide quality products/services to meet client needs

Figure 1. Manual Filing in Figure 2. Information in

organize manner Database