MANAGING INFORMATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY: CHALLENGES, ISSUES AND PROSPECT

Abstract

This study examines managing information in the 21^st century: challenges, issues and prospect. To achieve its main objective, existing literature on information management, challenges, issues and prospects were reviewed. The literature reviewed revealed that challenges and issues relating to effective information management in the 21^st century can be grouped under human resource related, organizational related and information security related. The human resource related challenges and issues are:  resistant to change, inadequate knowledge of how to use information technology in promoting effective and efficient information management, and lack of adequate personnel with skills for effective information management. The organizational related challenges and issues are: inconsistency of manual information management systems, urge to integrate technology as driver of information management system, complying with new legislation, regulations and policies guiding the standards and directives of information technology (IT) infrastructure, network infrastructure, software and other IT equipment. The information security challenges and issues related to information management centre on confidentiality and privacy, information integrity, authenticity and availability. Based on these findings, it was recommended among others that: organizations should engage the services of technological oriented personnel during their future recruitments, organizations need to evaluate their existing information management capabilities before designing new information management system in compliance with their 21^st information need, organizations should procure and install 21^st century information technology infrastructure that supports their corporate objectives and organizations should expose their personnel especially those saddled with the responsibility of information management in the 21^st century on information security training.