The UK public sector’s information management capabilities are seriously challenged by the pace of change
Research from Iron Mountain shows that records and information management in the public sector is contributing significantly to Government cost-saving and efficiency targets. However, the pace and scope of change across the sector presents a serious challenge, as 72 per cent of the public sector information leaders surveyed in the study say their approach to information management is fit-for-purpose, 61 per cent admit their organisation has lost or misplaced important documents. Also 40 per cent say they have suffered a data breach.
The study found that reform is welcome and already delivering considerable benefits, but it also found that developments such as the merger and relocation of offices and job roles can result in over-burdened staff (81 per cent), a disconnected approach to information across teams (71 per cent), a lack of information management skills (60 per cent), and a failure to stick to guidelines (57 per cent).
Phil Greenwood, responsible for delivering Iron Mountain’s services to the public sector, said: “The UK’s public sector is going through a period of transformational change. Almost everyone we surveyed said that cost cutting had resulted in the loss of valuable skills in records and information management.
“More than half reported reduced operational efficiency and many had experienced a data breach or loss. For the public sector to further its success in bringing services online, freeing up its estate and reducing cost, the transformation must be met with improvements in how records and information are managed. With four in five public sector bodies identifying an opportunity to make additional cost savings by optimising their records and information management, this looks like an area that deserves consideration and review.”
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