Abstract
Information is one of the most valuable resources and important assets in organisations globally. Industry 5.0 has brought about a more human-centric and sustainable approach to organizations in their work output. Organizations achieve competitive advantage and make informed decisions based on the information acquired and how well such information resources are well managed. Information management helps organisations to manage their information accurately, cost-effectively, timely, accessibly, and usably. Conversely, the risks of disaster remain a peril to the management of information in public institutions. The study seeks to examine the disaster management procedures adopted by public institutions to safeguard valuable information for informed decisions, workable policies, economic growth, and sustainable development in Ghana.
TopBackground
The risks of disasters present dangers to the safety and preservation of official records and information. A disaster is “a major emergency; a convergence of circumstances that usually leaves an organization unable to fulfil its mission, sometimes for an extended period” (Bolger 2003). Disasters cause disruption to organizations' operations and activities. There are many kinds of disasters and one of such is information disaster. Information disaster is generally, any happening that results in the destruction of “information resources”. Information resources are data and information assets of an organization. They also include facilities and infrastructure that contain data, information, and records. Information disasters are any incident that results in the denial of access to information and its timing is unexpected and the effects are seriously disruptive resulting in the sudden removal of records and documents from accessibility and use, threatening human safety and/or damaging information resources including buildings, collections, contents, facilities, or services.
Disasters have been seen in recent times as the consequences of risks and these risks are the products of hazards and vulnerability. Hazards can include hidden conditions that may present future threats, and which may have different origins whilst vulnerability is a set of prevailing or consequential conditions resulting from physical, social, economical, and environmental factors which increase the susceptibility of a community to impact hazards (UNISDR 2002). Disasters can at best be an aggravating and costly diversion for a government organization. There is therefore the need for preparedness before disasters strike. Disaster management can help prevent such events and should they occur, help to minimize their effects. Disaster management is planning and being prepared for the unexpected and dealing with disasters effectively should they occur. Disaster management is not a function of one organization working on its own, rather it involves the cooperation and co-ordination of experts/professionals and agencies such as social services, administration, logistics and health.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Information Disaster: any incident that results in the denial of access to information and its timing is unexpected and the effects seriously disruptive resulting in the sudden removal of records and documents from accessibility and use, threatens human safety and/or damages information resources including buildings, collections, contents, facilities, or services.
Information: any intelligence which can be communicated in either graphic form or by alpha numeric characters
Public Records and Archives Administration: they ensure the management of public records across government ministries, departments, and agencies in Ghana
Electronic Records Management: The management of born digital records or information with the use of ICTs and its infrastructure
Vital Records: they are records that are essential to the operations of an organization.
Public Institutions: they are institutions entities that are established, controlled, and financed by the government.
Disaster Preparedness: planning in preparedness to deal with disasters should they occur since not all disasters can be prevented.
Disaster: a major emergency; a convergence of circumstances that usually leaves an organization unable to fulfill its mission, sometimes for an extended period.
Records: information in any format, created, received, and maintained as evidence and information by an organization or person, in pursuance of legal obligations or in the transaction of business.
National Disaster Management Organization: an organization that provides relief services for communities and organisations during disasters and its related emergencies