IWFM Information Management webinar brings leading facilities management experts to an audience of hundreds 

News

One of IWFM’s superpowers is our ability to convene some of the brightest minds in our industry and have them share that knowledge for the benefit of our members. 

That’s exactly what happened on 21 January as nearly 400 workplace and facilities managers signed up for our webinar to hear an expert panel explore best practice in information management for facilities managers. 

According to host Andrew Gladstone-Heighton, IWFM’s Head of Policy and Insight, ‘The most striking thing about the webinar was the focus on people, skills and change management. To the outsider, information management makes one think of spreadsheets and software, but what was clear from the discussion that these factors come in further downstream in the information management conversation.’ 

Contributions from speakers and delegates highlighted that getting an organisation’s information in order is often an intimidating prospect. IWFM’s Technology SIG chair, and author of IWFM’s recent Information Management Good Practice Guide, Gordon Mitchell comparing it to ‘eating the elephant’. But the panel discussion was clear that the 5-layer model outlined in the guidance really can help break down this overwhelming task into manageable, deliverable workflows. 

This deliverability is key in getting executive buy in, as we can highlight quick wins in efficiencies and savings through consolidation and structuring of information sources we currently have. From this, further efficiencies and savings can be made through thinking outside of proprietary software systems, efficiency savings and more robust reporting of data for contractors and regulators.   

It was clear from the level of engagement that there is a huge appetite for more discussion on the subject, which the Institute will continue to develop in the months and years to come. 

In the meantime, you can view a recording of the webinar here. 

And you can download our comprehensive Good Practice Guide to Information Management here.