Effective Document and Data Management

Bob Wiggins has consulted and written on information management at many levels, from business analysis, through requirements specification to procurement and project management with special reference to quality and process improvement. He ran his own company for 20 years prior to which he established information services for the British Gas Engineering Research Station dealing with the conversion to natural gas and later at BP co-ordinated the Group's information services, managed the central data and records management consultancy teams, and introduced one of the first major corporate text retrieval systems. He graduated with a degree in metallurgy from Nottingham University, was a founding member of the Institute of Information Scientists and has been associated with many professional institutions which have arisen and merged during the decades to reflect the changing information scene. He was also for a time Assistant Editor of the International Journal of Information Management published by Elsevier. He has a website https://www.curaorg.uk/ which includes updates and additional information in support of the book.

• Introduction; Part 1 Context; Chapter 1 The Organizational Context; Chapter 2 Improving Organizational Performance; Chapter 3 The Information Context; Part 2 The Information Life Cycle; Chapter 4 Information Capture; Chapter 5 Manage Information; Chapter 6 Information Retrieval and Use; Chapter 7 Data Management; Part 3 Projects; Chapter 8 Undertaking a Project; Chapter 9 Information Management – The Project Focus;

'That Bob Wiggins's excellent text is now in its third edition is testimony to its value for organizations of all kinds. The management of information generally and the control of organizational documentation in particular has been faced by new technological challenges in the decade since the previous edition. The author manages to ride the waves of all the changes that have taken place and brings a calm and considered approach to management problems. This is a book not only for the professional information manager, but also for the general manager who needs a guide through the potential jungle of document management.' Tom Wilson, Professor Emeritus, University of Sheffield, UK 'This book made me laugh; not many information management books have achieved that! The laughter was because it correctly states what to many should be obvious when often, sadly, even for records/information managers, it is not. The format and topic based structure makes reading easy on the eye and the brain and facilitates knowledge capture by any reader, not just the information specialists. The Introduction gives a straightforward canter through history, reminding us of many information mediums, and the restructuring is timely, bringing in "data management as a topic in its own right". The content is aimed at a wide variety of users, from business managers to information end users. It is an essential read for both new and experienced information managers for its advances in learning and its reference value.' Paul Dodgson, professional Records and Information Manager and past Vice-Chairman of the Information and Records Management Society Reviews of the second edition: 'Wiggins has produced a very good work, highly practical with a good deal of common sense, and, not least of all, readable.' Information Management 'a useful overview of relevant information technology, and helps demystify much of the jargon.' Library Association Record 'This is a useful reference book for anyone contemplating the implementation of a document management system.' Library Link 'Wiggins manages to provide topicality with practicality in one very useful volume. It is well laid out, easy to read, and contains many useful references.' Electronic Library, Volume 18, No 6 'Throughout the text presents clearly, not only an explanation of such key business tools as business process re-engineering, but also the complexities of the technologies associated with document management, bringing together in one place explanations of many acronyms and jargon terms ... I would certainly recommend it to my students' Program 'The book is nicely set out and inviting to read with bite-sized chunks, boxes, lots of bullet points and subheadings and diagrams. All in all, a "must-have" for potential document managers.' Information Management and Technology '...a treasury of figures and tables ... some might argue that it is worth the cover price just to be able to crib from these each time you prepare a presentation requiring some introduction to fundamental concepts such as the knowledge hierarchy or the usage patterns and life cycles of documents ... I anticipate that it will "earn its keep" on my reference shelves for years to come.' Information World Review '...is illustrated by a wide range of figures and tables, which provide excellent references and sources for the reader to reuse.' Journal of Society of Archivists '...an excellent and straightforward look at issues to consider and steps to take in rolling out document management in an organization. If you're looking to understand how document management fits into an organization's overall business objectives, this is the place to start.' e.Doc '...do try to get a copy from the library or persuade your boss that your department really needs it. It is well written and well presented by an author who knows his subject.' www.qualityauthors.co.uk