2023-24 IMMAP results released

The Information Management Maturity Assessment Program (IMMAP) results from 2023-24 have now been released. IMMAP takes place every two years. It requires inner budget organisations to undertake an assessment of their information and data management practices to determine areas for improvement across the sector. 

Eleven organisations participated in the latest round of the program, addressing 17 information management questions and 23 data management questions across the broad categories of people, organisation, lifecycle and quality, business systems and processes, and data integrity (which was optional). 

Information management and data management results have been captured separately to enable comparison, and to improve strategic planning and management. It is important to acknowledge the differences between the two disciplines while accepting that they operate in the same space and impact on each other.
 

The 2023-24 IMMAP Report 

The 2023-24 IMMAP Report consists of three main parts, with each part including several auxiliary parts as follows:

2023-24 IMMAP Report Part One: Consolidated Results 

• Part One A: Executive Summary
• Part One B: IMMAP Methodology
• Part One C: Context

2023-24 IMMAP Report Part Two: Information Management: by Question 

• Part Two A: Supportive Comments
• Part Two B: Information Management Questionnaire

2023-24 IMMAP Report Part Three: Data Management: by Question

• Part Three A: Supportive Comments
• Part Three B: Data Management Questionnaire
   

IMMAP report findings

A major concern shown by the results is that overall information and data management maturity levels across Victorian government have not progressed from an overall maturity level of 2 Aware in ten years. 

Reasons provided for the low maturity included the continual impact of machinery of government change, a lack of resources¹ for information and data management programs, combined with inconsistent practices and limited understanding of why information and data management is important.

Organisations without a sufficient number of experienced and skilled staff and appropriate resourcing for information and data management programs have declined in maturity, some very significantly. 

Continual improvement was demonstrated by organisations that had:

• information and data management programs that included appropriate staff levels for the size and complexity of the organisation
• people with relevant knowledge and skills
• sufficient budget for the full program of work
• executive level support 
• time to achieve results. 

Privacy and security, accessibility, and data sharing achieved higher levels of maturity this round at 3 Formative, with comments revealing those areas received priority attention and additional resources than other areas.

Both information and data come under the jurisdiction of the Public Records Act 1973 and must be managed in accordance with the mandatory Standards issued under the Act. Information and data are essential for conducting business well, for accountability, and to enable key technological innovations such as the use of artificial intelligence technologies.

Recommendations for improvement

The report resulted in five recommendations to improve maturity:

• Recommendation 1: Information and data management staff levels and expertise should be sufficient for the size and complexity of the organisation.
• Recommendation 2: Information and data management staff should be provided with sufficient tools and resources to implement and maintain information and data management programs in line with regulatory, business and stakeholder needs.
• Recommendation 3: Organisational governance structures should include information and data management requirements as part of a program of continuous improvement towards addressing regulatory, business and stakeholder needs.
• Recommendation 4: Executive level management position responsibilities should include championing best practice information and data management across the organisation.
• Recommendation 5: Information and data management teams should note areas of increased complexity in audit and review actions, and address them as part of continuous improvement programs.

We strongly advise that organisations across Victorian government assign more resources and greater focus to information and data management to increase efficiency, reduce risk, improve services to the community and build trust in government. 

View the full report

The full report can be downloaded here: Information Management Maturity Assessment Program (IMMAP) | PROV

^{1 Resources include budget, people with relevant skills and knowledge, senior management support, time, and appropriate, well-maintained tools.}