Enterprise Information Management Components

Information Management is a concept that is relatively well known. Recently the term Enterprise Information Management (EIM) has become popular. EIM initiatives often support a wider range of services and information, are guided by a strategy and driven as a program across business unit borders.

Many people feel it is a daunting task to set off an EIM initiative. How to kick-start and scope a strategy or program? Below is a list of core components to consider with some basic definitions (back-end enterprise applications and other information sources are not included):

Interaction oriented components

• Enterprise Portals: Delivery of digital content in multiple channels
• Self-Service Applications: Automated business transactions initiated by users
• Business Intelligence: Gather and analyse data for business decisions

Information oriented components

• Enterprise Content Management: Production of content for any media
• Information Quality and Integration: Correct and combine information from applications
• Master Data Management: Manage and consolidate shared data

Integration oriented components

• Business Process Management: Model and manage business processes
• Service-Oriented Architecture: Making IT easier to reuse and integrate
• Enterprise Application Integration: Transport and transform messages

Discussing business needs, issues, stakeholders, projects, providers etc in relation to the components above has proven itself a good way to get many EIM efforts going.