Information Assets: An Executive Guide to the Untapped Driver of Business Success

In the age of Artificial Intelligence, organisations are increasingly using data, information and knowledge as a competitive weapon. Their data, information and knowledge are arguably their most valuable assets. Yet, this fourth asset is managed badly when compared to the other three assets – namely money, people and infrastructure – with considerable risk to the organisation. Executives are accountable for the success of their organisations, and those who fail to manage this critical resource and business enabler effectively can be regarded as negligent.

Information Assets (IAs) carry enormous risk and value. Most boards and executives don’t know how to govern and manage IAs effectively and nobody is held accountable. Given this, organisations should govern and manage their Information Assets the way they govern and manage their Financial Assets. The benefits of managing IAs well are compelling. These benefits include increased efficiency, productivity, employee satisfaction, improved decision-making, mitigating business risk and improving product, protecting corporate reputation and service delivery. Drawing on ground-breaking research, this book explains why Information Assets are so important to organisations and the barriers to managing them well.

This book takes a uniquely fresh look at Information Assets. It is the result of experience and research, including the results of interviews with more than 70 industry leaders on three continents. In short, this book is written by executives for executives and explains where to start to significantly improve your business’ operations and productivity through disciplined management of your Fourth Asset.

James Price is the founder and Managing Director of Experience Matters, a firm that helps organisations to do amazing things through making their data, information and knowledge high quality and available as required. He is the lead author of Information Asset Management: Why You Must Manage Your Data, Information and Knowledge the Way You Manage Your Money, a book based on ethics-approved, peer-reviewed research and a quarter of a century of business experience. James designed, developed and delivered a lecture series on Data Privacy, Governance and Quality to postgraduate students at the Business School of the University of South Australia. He is the Chair of the Data Leaders, a worldwide volunteer group of some of the greatest minds in this space. He is internationally recognised as a peer-reviewed author of, and a keynote presenter to, business and academic journals and conferences.

Nina Evans is an Associate Professor and experienced academic who serves as Professorial Lead in STEM at Adelaide University. Nina holds tertiary qualifications in Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Education, a Master of Information Technology, an MBA and a PhD. Nina has held various leadership and mentoring roles, led several research projects, and taught across diverse programmes. Her research interests centre on the crucial role of data, information, and knowledge (Information Assets) in driving business outcomes. The research collaboration with Experience Matters demonstrates the significant gains achieved when challenges are addressed from both academic and industry perspectives. Another research interest is Digital Business Transformation, not merely as a technological upgrade, but through genuine business innovation, effective leadership, seamless integration of business and technology professionals, rigorous business process management, recognition of information assets as valuable resources, and an understanding of the human dynamics within organisations. She therefore advocates that, apart from advanced technical skills, IT students should also develop a deep appreciation of the people and behaviour-related dimensions of working with information assets and technology. She has taught Masters’ and Doctoral courses in a range of subjects: Information Governance, Knowledge Management, IT Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement, and Business Process Modelling. She has supervised more than 15 PhD and Doctorate of IT candidates to completion and published more than 130 papers in accredited journals and peer-reviewed academic conferences. She and James regularly address audiences consisting of executives and professionals to share the findings of their research.