Elevating Information Management: Shell's Journey to Maturity

At Shell, we're on an exciting journey to raise our Information Management (IM) maturity. Our approach is twofold: we look externally at what others in the industry are doing, and we also focus internally on our own progress. 

Internal IM Maturity Model 

We've created a model where different lines of business fill in questionnaires annually. We can also conduct interviews to gain deeper insights. This process helps us understand where each business unit stands in their maturity - are they at 0, 5, or somewhere in the middle? 

But we don't stop at measuring - we also focus on improvement. We discuss with each business unit: "Okay, when you want to make that move from, say, a 2 to a 3, what do you need to do in the background? Which projects do you need to start up? How do we add value with the different projects?" 

Shifting from Compliance to Value 

Historically, we used to look at IM maturity purely from a compliance perspective. Now, we've expanded our view to include the value generated from information. This shift has changed our dialogue with the business entirely. Yes, we want to be compliant, but we also want to add value with the new innovations coming our way. 

External Benchmarking 

We've also conducted an exciting study with four other energy companies, looking at their IM maturity. This wasn't just a benchmark - it was a research initiative. An external company conducted interviews with the different IM and data teams across these companies, exploring what works well, what doesn't, and identifying best practices. 

This study has given us valuable insights to shape our IM strategy within Shell. We're also working to create an IM community with these companies to keep the dialogue flowing and learn from each other. Even though we're competitors in the industry, we believe we can still share, learn, and collaborate on information management. 

Looking Ahead 

As we continue this journey, we're developing tools like a maturity spider web that visually represents where an organization stands across different IM dimensions. We're also exploring how to bridge the gap between data and information management, recognizing that these two worlds are increasingly converging. 

Our goal is to create an IM value chain that connects all these elements - measuring maturity, setting goals, creating action plans, implementing initiatives, and demonstrating value to the business. By closing this loop, we can show exactly how our IM projects generate value, making it easier to secure funding and support for future initiatives. 

Remember, in the world of information management, it's not just about keeping everything - it's about keeping what's relevant and valuable. As we navigate the growing volumes of data and information, this focus on value will be crucial for success. 

This blog post is based on an original AIIM OnAir podcast. When recording podcasts, AIIM uses AI-enabled transcription in Zoom. We then use that transcription as part of a prompt with Claude Pro, Anthropic’s AI assistant. AIIM staff (aka humans) then edit the output from Claude for accuracy, completeness, and tone. In this way, we use AI to increase the accessibility of our podcast and extend the value of great content.