The specific aims of this study were determined on a conceptual appreciation that
management of information assets and services in some government agencies was
deficient in meeting both existing and developing demands. This appreciation
manifested itself in a commitment to investigate the principles and processes
intrinsic to existing management methodologies, to relate these processes to the
needs of users, and to determine a strategy which could more ably meet the
information provision requirements of those users.
The achievement of these aims predicated the use of the case study research
method, selecting as the first case study the Department of Human Services and
Health (DHSH), an agency that had recognised that a problem existed in the
provision of information services, and had initiated action to address that
problem. As a counter, the Department of Defence, an agency which adrmts to a
problem, but which had yet to initiate an active, global program for its resolution,
was chosen as the second case study.
A theoretical model, which reflects extant international thinking and practice, was
initially constructed in order to establish a basis on which to ascertain and
evaluate the information management circumstances of the two case study
departments. This model specified the objectives considered to be fundamental
to effective information management in a public service environment. It included
studying the foundation repositories of information services from which
information in the portfolio domains of government are sought. These services
are the traditional records centres or registries, the library services which provide
a repository of published and grey material in printed, image and magnetic
formats, and the computerised networks holding electronic records at varying
levels of development.
An analysis of findings was carried out separately on each case study agency
before bringing the data together for cross-case analysis. In order to maximise
the veracity and validity of the data collected and its subsequent interpretation by
the researcher, the draft analysed case study findings were submitted to the
respective agencies for review and critique. All matters of substance received
have been incorporated in the final version.
The findings from the two case studies and the cross-case analysis confm that,
despite significant advances in some specific agencies, the initial hypothesis that
government agencies are still deficient in providing optimum services to meet the
information needs of users, is demonstrated. The advances that have been made,
however, similarly support the other thesis hypotheses that the implementation of
an integrated information management strategy in any government agency will
provide a foundation for improved information provision and the timely delivery
of relevant available information to the user.
Finally, a model of optimum processes involved in such a strategy, derived from
the theory and practical products of this study, is offered. This could be the
subject for future evaluation and testing for realistic and functional application.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218704 |
| Date | January 1996 |
| Creators | Eccleston, Anthony L., n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Information, Language & Culture Studies |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Anthony L. Eccleston |
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