IM Energy Forum Benchmarking Update

UPDATE: June 2011. Benchmarking phase 2 in planning.

We are now planning the second year of Benchmarking Information Management in the energy sector. With the Robert Gordon University, last year's study is being reviewed, from which the net round of the study will be derived. In Q3 we will take this proposal to the members of the IM Energy Forum and any external participants and the study will be conducted in Q4. Depending on the number of participants, findings will be reported in late 2011 or early 2012. If you are interested in participating, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

UPDATE: February 2011. Report Available.

Forum members discussed the findings of the study at the Q1 2011 Forum Meeting hosted by Amor on the 15th of February. The study was generally well received and 2010'a participants are on board to repeat the study in late 2011. A section on the study is included in the Forum's 2011 Year so Far report. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for a copy.

UPDATE: January 2011. We can now confirm some of the follow up activities from the Benchmarking study.

• A Masterclass with the theme of Records Managment will be held on the 31st of May. Attendance is as usual, free for Forum members (up to three attendees from each member). If you would like to attend but are not a member please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
• RGU has agreed to develop a short training course for energy industry information professionals. We aim to have the course available in 2012. Forum members will get a discount on the course fee.
• Further primary research will be carried out through 2011
• We intend to repeat the study in late 2011 in order to track improvement over the course of one year

UPDATE: January 2011. Participants received their individual reports on the findings of the IM Energy Forum 2010 Benchmarking study in December. A further participant has requested to be involved and will be interviewed this month. Participants will have an opportunity  to discuss the findings of the study at the next Forum meeting on the 15th of February.

Data collection was by survey, conducted through interviews. Each participant received a report of their position relative to the other participants and a copy of their interview transcript. As well as the Benchmarking report, we are also developing case studies and examples of best practice from the study findings. These will be made available to participants when complete. With participants' permission, a sanitised research article will also be submitted for academic publication.

The study provided participants commentary and scores on a number of areas under the headings:

• IM Roles, Responsibilities and Relationships
• User Satisfaction, Expectations and Service Level Agreement
• IM Skill, Competency and Behaviour Model and Assessment
• IM Systems and Platforms
• IM Activities
• Retention and Retrieval

Participants were able to see their own position relative to their peers and were also provided comments specific to them on the findings for each measure. Areas identified in the study for further examination and reporting include remit, the definition of IM, transmittal processes, records management, checks and measures, ownership and staff development.

We embarked upon this study in response to our members telling us they want to better understand IM practices across the sector. The goal of all our services is to focus on business value so that the information and technology departments that we work with can produce the best supporting cases for service and technology investments.

If you are interested in Benchmarking Information Management in the Energy sector please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it