Information Governance For Public Sector Organizations

Factors affecting information governance and mobile device usage

Write about the Information Governance for Public Sector Organizations.

With the evolution in technology, use of mobile devices increased. Thus involvement of information governance is thus required in a large extent to support business process with a focus of improving information quality. The aim of this study is to explore factors that affect information governance within the mobile technology implementation in organizations in the dual-use framework.

Over the years mobile devices have witnessed several changes and these devices affect human lives in a significant manner. These devices are available in different forms and the most common features- they are wireless and can connect remote internet network. With upgradation in technology these devices adopt new features and these features are- touch enabled, improved camera quality, more storage, better RAM, and improved design. Thus the usage of these devices is growing over the years. But with growth in demand the risks involved with the devices is also high. So here comes the entry of information governance to manage information in a better way. Information governance provides a holistic approach to administer and influence information to support business processes. Various aspects of organizational elements are included in the domain of information governance these are-governance structure, policies, measures, records, audit etc. Improvements in mobile device technologies are posing challenges to records management and this is due to the fact records now can be stored in different systems across different platforms and with the data explosion the control over the record is constantly reduced. The problem of data explosion has increased with the revolution in mobile device industry and the records and information management (RIM) industry have clearly pointed the problem created due to data explosion. Thus with evolution of new features and functions of mobile devices, security aspects should be handled with care. Therefore mobile device usage has both aspects of usage –positive and negative.

Numerous arenas of positive aspects of mobile device usage and one negative aspect of its usage may pose a huge pay off. Research gap exists regarding the dual aspect of mobile devices. This journal article thus aims to explore the perceived risks that are associated with the dual use of mobile devices.

The article reviewed several literatures on the concerned topic and then applied methodology to explore the significant factors. Finally it provides insights of the study.

In order to find the effect of factors impacting information governance, this particular study used qualitative research method by collecting and analyzing empirical data. By conducting the qualitative research, this study finds main factors organizations should take care: urgency of support from the stakeholders in order to modify and influence security of the organization. The study also finds that major challenge for RIM stakeholders is regarding records mobility with data mobility. Finally study finds that for a successful mobile implementation, mobile strategy and security structure are the two crucial factors.

Challenges faced by records and information management

The three factors identified by this study are consistent with previous studies on the same issue. Study finds active participation of stakeholders is required and this result is consistent with study on the same topic (Wilkin, Campbell and Moore 2013). The result of the study also shows that information governance depends upon higher management of an organization and this is because good security framework only achieved when investments are done. Finally the article shows that human element plays the role of obstacles in securing organizational information and this result also consistent with other studies (Garbarino-Alberti,  2013). Thus the three issues identified by the study are consistent with previous studies on the same topic. Hence the research method used by the study rightly points out the factors affecting the information governance on the dual use of mobile devices.

Conclusion

Growing use of mobile devices involves a greater risk but if the factors are determined in a proper manner then it is easy to fight against the problem raised from it. This study particularly explores the factors affecting the information governance and it finds the factors in a suitable way. The risks associated with mobile devices will be reduced and use of mobile devices will have only positive effect on its users if factors are addressed properly. The study thus suggests that good information security governance framework is required and organizations should identify the underlying mechanics.

Amali, L.N., Mahmuddin, M. and Ahmad, M., 2014. Information Technology Governance Framework in the Public Sector Organizations. TELKOMNIKA (Telecommunication Computing Electronics and Control), 12(2), pp.429-436.

Information technology governance emerged to produce efficient and effective use of IT. Importance of this governance is felt by both the sectors of the economy-public and private. This paper mainly aims to provide framework of IT governance in public sector organizations and the relevant factors that contribute to the implementation of IT governance in Indonesia.

Various countries felt the need of IT governance to achieve their desired goals. Presently, numerous organizations are adopting and applying IT governance. Public sector organizations included IT governance in its purview for better evaluation, direction and monitor of IT in organizations. It is also expected that ITG practices will improve the performance of organization. Thus along with the existing frameworks new approaches should be adopted. The initiation of ITG was 1990 and it was outcome of government regulations concerning information policy issues.  Both sectors of economy are so different from each other but both require ITG. Investments on IT nowadays play an integral role for increasing economic growth of a country. Particularly with respect to public sector ITG adopted for success. There are three elements of ITG framework- processes, structures and relational mechanisms. The focus of public sector to achieve greater performance needs control over IT spending.

Importance of IT governance framework in public sector organizations

In Indonesia lack of clear structure for ITG raised difficulty to assess the competence of resources used for IT and risks linked with awareness and utilization of ITG in public sector (Al Omari et al. 2012).  The study thus was conducted with a view that it could provide solution to the government of Indonesia in order to mitigate problems raised within the system.

For understanding the function of ITG in public sector, a descriptive approach is used. This approach involves survey of policies, procedures, literatures, technical and non technical documentation and observation. This study revealed that ITG evolved to recognize business value of IT. In order to recognize value of business a framework is identified which promote ITG. This framework shows that vision of ITG is important for being innovative, monitoring and evaluation of ITG is required for assuring better performance and  the roles of different units should be assigned in a proper manner. Study finally shows that policies regarding ITG should be implemented with suitable guidance.

Thus study using descriptive approach points out the factors which contribute to better performance of ITG in public sector. The findings of the study are consistent with other studies on the same topic.

Conclusion

The purpose of this paper to provide a suitable framework for guiding ITG in public sector is solved to some extent .The paper offer a ground that organizations must follow to obtain benefits by implementing ITG. It is expected that the framework proposed by the study will develop understanding power of organizations to solve problems raised within organization. The framework developed by keeping in mind the three elements of ITG mechanism which are important for proper implementation of IT.

The two journal articles under consideration show that Information Governance is very important for the growth of any organization. Articles pointed out gap exist during the implementation of proper IG. For increasing the growth of any organization IG should be given more importance because proper IG would lower the risks associated with security issues. Both the studies provide path for IG implementation.

The first article although identifies the appropriate factors affecting IG but the factors determined by the study already being identified by other studies there is no new factor identified which affects IG, it only shows consistency with other studies. Thus research gap existed in the particular issue addressed by first article.

Now coming to the second article which concentrated on solving problems in public sector of Indonesia gives a framework of ITG which should be followed by the public sector to expand growth of public sector. This study has shortcomings in the sense, it used a descriptive approach which gives a very general solution to the problems faced by the sector, if the research method used by the study changed to some qualitative approach then it would be easy to point out the issues by citing an example.

The overall observation of two articles shows that IG is very important and should be implemented for achieving goals that are set by the organizations.

References

Al Omari, L., Barnes, P.H. and Pitman, G., 2012, December. Optimising COBIT 5 for IT governance: examples from the public sector. In Proceedings of the ATISR 2012: 2nd International Conference on Applied and Theoretical Information Systems Research (2nd. ATISR2012). Academy of Taiwan Information Systems Research.

Amali, L.N., Mahmuddin, M. and Ahmad, M., 2014. Information Technology Governance Framework in the Public Sector Organizations. TELKOMNIKA (Telecommunication Computing Electronics and Control), 12(2), pp.429-436.

Garbarino-Alberti, H., 2013. IT governance and human resources management: A framework for SMEs. International Journal of Human Capital and Information Technology Professionals (IJHCITP), 4(3), pp.40-57.

Silic, M. and Back, A., 2013. Factors impacting information governance in the mobile device dual-use context. Records Management Journal, 23(2), pp.73-89.

Wilkin, C.L., Campbell, J. and Moore, S., 2013. Creating value through governing IT deployment in a public/private-sector inter-organisational context: A human agency perspective. European Journal of Information Systems, 22(5), pp.498-511.