Abstract
This chapter deals with the development of a policy framework that enables an enterprise to articulate its policy for managing documents and content, the general principles that support the policy, and the strategies for effective implementation of the policy. The development of a policy framework is not dependent on an investment in IDCM. The policy framework can be developed to apply improved practices for managing documents using existing tools (e.g., network file systems and physical filing systems), although the benefits offered by a managed repository would not be forthcoming. However, the development of an information management policy is a recommended prerequisite to the specification of requirements for an IDCM because of the following: • The policy document typically articulates principles that provide a contextual foundation for the process of requirements analysis and determination and the preparation of a Requirements Specification for an IDCM system. • The policy generally defines strategies that require action plans to be developed and implemented by roles with assigned responsibilities. The requirements analysis and determination tasks associated with IDCM may depend upon the successful conclusion of some strategies and actions. • The policy may reduce the risk of slippage in the project schedule during requirements analysis and determination and during the preparation of the Requirements Specification. We believe that the IDCM policy framework should be developed, communicated, and accepted within the enterprise prior to commencing the Requirements Specification(s), which we will discuss in Chapter 10. We also believe that IDCM policy must be positioned within the overall context of an enterprise’s information policy framework, which we shall discuss later in this chapter. Our objectives in this chapter, therefore, are to express contributing factors to a document policy, and to do this within the broader framework of an enterprise information policy which we see as a desirable authority that frames document policy.