• Introduction
• Background
• Vision

Introduction

Living up to our founding principles of openness, accountability, the sharing of power and equal opportunities, the management of our information is a keystone to the Scottish Parliament’s success.

Information is fundamental to the parliamentary process. There are three main groups of stakeholders whose interests can be addressed through information management:

• Members and their staff
• SPCB staff
• Citizens and other external stakeholders

Parliaments face increasing demands from both these internal and external sources. The expectations of the media, the public, businesses, Members and staff create pressure for change in our existing working methods.

The volume of documents and mass of knowledge accumulating within the Parliament is growing. Recent experience of dealing with FOI requests has highlighted the need for us to take a corporate and consistent approach to the way we handle information.

Project Background

The Information Management Strategy project was established in July 2005, and launched by the Chief Executive in September 2005, with a remit to develop an Information Management Strategy and a business case for its implementation. The strategy was agreed by SMT and it noted the decision of the IMS Board to redefine the scope of the project: to survey, analyse and report on the Parliament’s needs for improved information management, and to make recommendations for further action. The Board’s report outlined the findings and recommended a programme of work that would allow the organisation to move towards the ideals of an IMS.

Information Management Vision

The Information Management Strategy provides a vision for how we want to unify our diverse spectrum of systems, tools and knowledge, to create a robust infrastructure for the management of information for the future and to look at documenting the tacit knowledge available through the experience of staff:

Our vision is of a Parliament whose information is accurate, accessible and easily understood.

To achieve this, our information must be managed efficiently, shared effectively and presented clearly.

In this way our information will enable MSPs to contribute fully to the governance of Scotland, enable citizens to understand, value and engage with the Parliament, and build on confidence and pride in the Scottish Parliament.