The UK National Health Service (NI-IS) has undergone massive reform over the last ten years. Many of the changes have been connected with the introduction of business and management concepts into a public service. Part of this process has been the introduction of the principles of quality improvement through the process of Clinical Audit. This thesis proposes that the practice of Clinical Audit is often not resulting in an improvement in the quality of patient care. It suggests that this is due to many audit projects not completing the audit cycle. This failure to complete the audit cycle is attributed to the lack of completeness in many audit approaches and to human failure to actually carry out recommended changes in practice unless there is a mechanism to check that such changes occur. In an effort to address these issues, a conceptual model for a structured method has been evaluated and tested on both historical and live audit projects. The method has been developed into a full audit approach (Clinical Audit Structured Method; CASM) encompassing all four stages of Deming's Process Improvement Cycle. However, some deficiencies have been identified with this method and it has been proposed that a computerised toolset (Clinical Audit Structured Toolset; CAST) be developed in order to address these issues. A conceptual model of such a toolset has been suggested and possible barriers to its development have been identified. In conclusion, an information based method has been developed for clinical audit in the NHS and the rationale behind its conception has been discussed and supported. The method itself has been tested and the author has supported the supposition that by improving the information management aspects of audit practice, audit practice could be improved thus resulting in an improvement in patient care.

This thesis integrates three disciplines: geosciences, computer science, and museum collections management. Although these are not commonly integrated, by developing their intersection this thesis uniquely contributes a much-needed system for effectively managing geological collections. The lack of effective organization and management of collections can result in a serious problem: not only is history lost, but so is the potential for collection of further data from documented samples using newer analytical techniques. Using the Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech as a beta testing ground, the electronic geological management system, EGEMS, was developed (Chapter 2). A database such as EGEMS should provide ready access to useful information including, a material's provenance or current location, as well as any published analytical data. Past experiences volunteering in museums have allowed the author to design a system that is easily queried for such information. The organizational scheme and data model integral to the functionality of EGEMS was driven by direct experiences with geological research, in particular the electron microprobe analyses of Mn-rich minerals from the Hutter Mine, Virginia (Chapter 1). The final component of this thesis (Chapter 3) describes a facet of museum science that is most important—communication. This project records the development of a museum exhibit. Titled "The Search for the Mysterious Mineral," this approach relies on pedagogical tools to engage the audience, and to illustrate how the scientific method used by a geologist is the same technique used in any problem solving. The exploration involved in these projects has lead to an enhanced understanding and appreciation for connections among generating, managing, and communicating geological information. / Master of Science

Thesis (M.C.S.) - Carleton University, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-96). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

In an infectious animal disease outbreak, effective management of the event requires timely and accurate information collection, processing, storage and distribution. This thesis focuses on the tools to assist information collection and management. The first study describes the comparison of questionnaire methodology for the information collection in the initial epidemiologic investigation of a Canadian federally reportable disease. The second study defines attributes of an animal disease outbreak information management system (IMS). The studies were performed within a one-year period (July 2013-July 2014). The first study performed two comparisons to determine differences in the information quality (completeness and accuracy) between differing questionnaire methodology and modes of completion (hard copy and electronic). The study was conducted with 24 Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspectors and veterinarians using a fictitious Canadian reportable disease scenario. The first comparison used a hard copy of a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) questionnaire designed to be applicable (or generic) for all highly infectious reportable disease investigations with a supplementary disease specific section compared to an electronic disease specific reportable disease questionnaire. There was no significant difference in the information quality (N = 22; P = 0.09). The mean difference in completeness and accuracy scores was 3.5% (95% CI -0.6, 7.6). The second comparison focused on the hard copy disease questionnaire and assessed differences in information quality between using only the generic sections of the questionnaire compared to the supplementation of a disease specific section. A difference in information quality was determined (N = 24; P < 0.0001). The mean completeness and accuracy score for the generic only sections was 50.2% (95% CI 43.6, 57.2) compared to 80.2% (95% CI 76.2, 84.5) with the inclusion of the disease-specific section. The greatest difference in information quality occurred in the tracing specific information categories (P < 0.0001) with a mean difference of completeness and accuracy scores of 67.7% (95% CI 52.0, 83.4) for the trace-in (exposure history) category and 38.3% (95% CI 28.3, 48.3) for the trace-out (potential spread of disease) category. The absence of disease-specific questions were determined to be the primary factor in the difference in information quality. The second study determined a comprehensive list of user-defined attributes of an animal disease outbreak IMS and further identified the most important (key) attributes. A list of 34 attributes and associated definitions were determined through a series of focus group sessions and two surveys of Canadian animal health stakeholders. The animal health stakeholders included federal and provincial governments, veterinary academia and animal production industry representatives. The key attributes of an animal disease outbreak IMS identified were: ‘user friendly’, ‘effectiveness’, ‘accessibility’, ‘data accuracy’, ‘reliability’ and ‘timeliness’. ‘User friendly’ received the highest frequency of ranking as the most important attribute, followed by ‘effectiveness’. Information management was identified as the main purpose of an animal disease outbreak IMS with a median rating of 10 (rating scale of 0-10 with 10 = strongly agree). The occurrence of a federally reportable disease or a large-scale animal disease outbreak can have a great impact on the animal agriculture sector, regulatory government agencies and the economy. Information collection and management are essential to assist with the epidemiologic investigation and disease control measures. The study provided a novel opportunity to study information management for an animal disease outbreak from a Canadian perspective. The knowledge obtained will add value to the future development of tools and systems designed for information collection and management involving an animal disease outbreak.

Popu1ar writers and experts say that we are living in an "Information" era, that we have become an "Information" society with an "Information" economy. Businesses have come to realise the importance of information for the survival of the enterprise in a business world which is becoming increasingly complex. This realisation led to the concept of "managing information as a resource". This concept has the underlying assumptions that we know what information and information resources are, that information is indeed a resource and that information can indeed be managed. The purpose of this study is to evaluate these assumptions and to propose a framework for information management. Information is strongly linked to data, knowledge and wisdom. These terms are often used interchangeably in ordinary language. For the purposes of this study more accurate definitions were proposed. Data are unevaluated attributes, information is data put into perspective and context while knowledge is justified, true beliefs. Wisdom is a special ability of a person to make meaningful "connections" between his own knowledge and information thereby exhibiting insight into a given situation. Information can only exist in the human mind as that is the only place where meaning can be added. Information can be made tangible by putting it on paper or through verbal expression, but, once outside the mind, it can, at most, be called information resources. The process of transforming data into information resources and transforming information resources into information and knowledge is called the information process. This process is reversible and iterative. Every single human being needs information in order to survive. It is a basic human need. It plays an important role in learning and in communication with an equally important role in society. It has strong implications regarding the individual's rights to privacy and access to information. The use of information by society has an influence on culture and it shapes a new economy which is based on services and knowledge. It has the ability to replace capital and becomes "capital" in itself Because of its importance to individuals, business, on a national and international basis, information needs to be managed. Information management means the cost -effective management of the information process, the information resources and the information infrastructure in pursuit of predetermined goals. It is a centralised function within the organisation with the purpose of facilitating and providing the framework needed within which to manage information. The management of information means that the information resources allocated to individuals are managed prudently and is the responsibility of each individual. The management of information takes place within the framework provided by the information management function. Information is a resource and a manageable one. Considering that a change in a person's knowledge occurs when presented with information, another dimension becomes evident, namely, that of a process; the process of informing. Both these dimensions need an infrastructure in support. Information management is the management of the resource dimension, the process dimension and of the infrastructure and calls for an holistic management approach. The aim of information management is to mobilise the data, information and knowledge resources into productive action. That is the challenge facing individuals, organisations and governments. / Thesis (DCom)--University of Pretoria, 2013. / Informatics / unrestricted

The key theme of this research is the planning and management of information security and in particular, the research focuses on the involvement of information stakeholders in this process. The main objective of the research is to study the ownership of, and acceptance of responsibility for, information security measures by stakeholders having an interest in that information.

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In our days every part of business goes on-line. Using old methods of information gathering means that your business might be left behind or maybe even be at risk of extinction. Information gathering in publishing business is a critical task. Information and media gathering and storing is a task of highest importance. Computerizing this task means that you can have more data in less time. Data must be gathered anytime, anywhere. To accomplish this critical goal online data management systems are created. Every data management system must have data gathering system connected to it. In this paper document gathering system conception, problems and realization methods are analyzed. Document uploading system is an "entry point" for data management systems. Document gathering system lets us accomplish document uploading, storing and management tasks. Such system consists of three parts. Document or media uploading task.