UK businesses drowning in badly managed information

Poorly managed information is causing a major headache for IT managers in the UK, according to a survey commissioned by content-management specialist Stellent.

The research found that more than three quarters (77 per cent) of managers who responded believed that information was not being shared effectively within their organisations. This figure rose to a massive 95 per cent within the financial-services sector.

A further 77 per cent cited the need for information-management systems that worked together more smoothly, while the same number indicated that better staff training could remedy the situation. Furthermore, the impact of poor information management on business was clear; with more than two thirds (68 per cent) of respondents stating that too much time and money is being spent on managing and searching for their existing information assets.

Industry estimates state that the volume of information being held by businesses is growing at a rate of 40 per cent each year, which is highlighting the worries faced by those responsible for its management.

Fifty-nine per cent of the IT managers questioned were dubious about the accuracy of their information and whether or not it was up to date. Compliance was another key concern and 57 per cent of respondents were worried about the implication of poor information management on their overall compliance strategy.

But, according to David Macey, executive vice president of international operations at Stellent, the results came as no surprise.“These results show what we have suspected for a long time,” he said. “IT managers simply do not have the systems and resources that they need if they are to handle the massive volumes of information they receive in an efficient way.”

Macey went on to urge companies to realise that the amount of information residing on their systems was only going to continue increasing and that they had to take a strategic look at how they could make the most of the technological resources available to them. Rather than take what he referred to as a “pick and mix” approach, which often yields clumsy and inflexible information-management systems, he argued that integration was the key. “Companies need to take an integrated, scalable approach to information management that allows different components to work together across the enterprise,” he said. Otherwise, businesses will continue to leave themselves open to unnecessary costs and problems with compliance.

The survey canvassed the opinions of 100 UK IT managers, based in companies with more than 1,000 employees.

www.stellent.com.