The information audit: Theory versus practice

This paper presents and discusses five information audit (IA) case studies, which tested the application and usability of an IA methodology. The studies also trialled an IA scope matrix and incorporated process modelling. The main strengths of the IA methodology were found to be the logical structuring of stages, provision of a comprehensive toolkit, and the flexibility to remove stages not relevant to the client brief. A limitation of the methodology was found to be its lack of instructional depth. The IA scope matrix was successfully trialled, and process modelling proved extremely valuable, encouraging participant involvement by focusing on readily understandable aspects of day-to-day work, and providing an organisational model of information flow.