Jinfo: Jinfo for information strategy

Jinfo for information strategy
Jinfo Blog

5th August 2019

Abstract

How can you use Jinfo's benchmarking research to define and measure your highest value to the information centre? Jinfo's director of research, Robin Neidorf, highlights research and resources along with Jinfo's Consulting workshops.

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We're all focused on value - how to define it, measure it, and communicate it.

Strategy means managing value in context - what is the organisation trying to achieve? What's the highest value you can deliver, given the requirements and opportunities of your environment?

These are the questions we help answer through the resources of the current Research Focus, "Benchmark information services - progressing towards transformation".

What are you trying to achieve?

Information teams commonly collect usage data and other statistics to gauge and report on their contributions to their organisations. Yet the real impacts we need to be able to document and communicate are those that take place in the business:

Use the above links to view Jinfo's models for understanding, measuring and communicating value against these goals, or review the full report, "Documenting the value chain" - let's face it, most of us are trying to achieve many of these objectives on behalf of our organisations.

Importance of reporting structure

A key insight of Jinfo's benchmarking work is the primacy of reporting structure in determining how an information department can best contribute to the success of an organisation.

We've seen this insight in action every time we work with a team that has been through reorganisation - suddenly, the context, resources, and limitations of their work completely change.

Whilst this insight may be intuitive once it's articulated, the more challenging and practical question is what you can do about it.

Jinfo has analysed the most common reporting structures to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each, as well as where we recommend investing attention and resources in order to maximise your value:

The long-term view requires perspective

There's a good reason new leadership often introduces a new strategy - they bring a fresh perspective and can see more clearly how to change entrenched habits and systems.

But there's also a lot to be said for the value of long-term experience in finding a way forward. But you can gain some of that external perspective through Jinfo resources - including direct engagement with Jinfo Consulting.

Our in-house workshops "Future-proof your information service" and "Assessment and planning workshop" can sharpen or initiate your strategic planning. Contact Claire Laybats, head of commercial development, to discuss your needs.

Our best, latest resources to support information strategy:

Articles:

Reports, assessments and models: