Introduction to Information Science - Information Life Cycle

Course Overview & Learning Outcomes

  • Course Title: BSc. Information Science

  • Module: Introduction to Information Science (CSI101)

  • Unit: Unit 1, Lesson 3: INFORMATION LIFE CYCLE

  • Facilitator: Dr. V.W Tsabedze

Learning Outcomes

  • Define Information Management Lifecycle and its stages.

  • Define what a research lifecycle is all about.

  • Itemize the different stages of the research lifecycle.

  • Explain in detail each section of the research lifecycle.

Information Management Lifecycle

Information lifecycle management (ILM) is structured into five distinct phases:

  • Creation:

    • Also referred to as the "collection" stage.

    • Represents the initial stage of information lifecycle management, dealing with records directly from their point of origin.

    • The originator of a record may be an internal staff member within an organization or library, or an external body.

    • Examples of records created include correspondence, forms, reports, drawings, computer input, and other source materials.

  • Distribution:

    • Manages records after their initial creation phase.

    • Oversees the routing of records to the intended recipient, whether internal or external.

    • Record classification definitions:

    • Internal record: A record generated for internal organizational use or when leaving an internal department/library context.

    • External record: A record that leaves the organization entirely, navigating through the full information lifecycle management process.

  • Use:

    • The third phase of the information lifecycle.

    • Involves utilizing records to support and guide organizational decision-making for subsequent actions.

    • Directs the recipient on appropriate next steps once information is delivered.

  • Maintenance:

    • Focuses on proper record preservation to protect files from damage or loss while maintaining accessibility.

    • Encompasses three primary operations:

    • Filing: Storing printed information in enclosed containers, systematically organized and tagged for efficient retrieval.

    • Retrieval: Locating and extracting filed records as required.

    • Transfers: Moving records between storage locations or systems.

    • Critical for reference purposes, requiring items to be re-filed properly after use so new personnel can trace records when guided.

  • Disposition:

    • Addresses records that are accessed less frequently over time, as information value naturally diminishes.

    • Infrequently used records are moved to archives to maintain operational capacity for active records.

    • Lifecycle transitions:

    • Records transition to semi-active status after several years.

    • Periodic evaluations assess whether record contents retain organizational value.

    • Records deemed no longer valuable are systematically disposed of through appropriate procedures.

Information Lifecycle Framework & Workflow


Diagram illustrating information management lifecycle drivers and workflow processes

Drivers of Information Management

  • Data Warehousing

  • Information Governance

  • Information Infrastructure

Core Cyclic Phases

  1. Data Collection

  2. Information Processing and Analysis

  3. Information Generation

  4. Reporting and Presentation

  5. Security of Information

  6. Maintenance and Proper Use of Information (feeds back into Data Collection)

Benefits of Information Lifecycle Management

Implementing structured Information Lifecycle Management provides four principal benefits to an organization or library:

  • Reduced Risk:

    • Prevents records or information from falling into unauthorized hands or being lost.

    • Mitigates financial losses caused by relying on expired or outdated information.

    • Simplifies locating and tracking stored records.

  • Cost Savings:

    • Lowers expenditures on legal services associated with record retention.

    • Decreases physical and digital storage expenses.

    • Eliminates costs stemming from record duplication.

    • Enables timely identification and disposal of non-value-added information.

  • Improved Service:

    • Offloads secondary tasks (archiving, eDiscovery, and records management) to a dedicated ILM department.

    • Allows core organizational departments to concentrate on customer service and business strategy execution.

  • More Effective Governance:

    • Functions as a foundational determinant of organizational stability and success.

    • Increases operational efficiency, which can lead to higher organizational bonuses.

    • Establishes systemic orderliness across enterprise operations.

The Research Life Cycle Overview

According to Vaughn, Hayes, Lerner, McElfresh, Pavlech, Romito, Reeves, and Morris (2013), the research lifecycle is divided into five general areas, supported directly by library services.


Table showing the stages of the research lifecycle and supporting library services based on Vaughn et al., 2013

Summary Matrix of Stages and Supporting Library Services

  • Idea Development: Find sources

  • Funding: Find funding sources

  • Proposal: Prepare data management plan

  • Conducting: Manage citations

  • Disseminating: Select journals

Detailed Stages of the Research Life Cycle

Stage 1: Idea Development

Idea development involves conceptualizing and formulating the core subject of research through four specific activities:

  • Find Background Literature:

    • Examining literature review sections in existing publications to identify research gaps highlighted or overlooked by previous authors.

    • Converting identified literature gaps into new research topics.

  • Utilize Research Tools Effectively:

    • Utilizing specialized digital tools to simplify searching and organizing literature.

    • Key research tools include:

    • Google Scholar

    • Bing

    • Mendeley

  • Locate Data Sources:

    • Primary Data: Original information gathered directly by the researcher specifically for the current project via observations, surveys, and focus groups.

    • Secondary Data: Information extracted from existing documentation, including theses, scholarly journals, internet databases, and library catalogs.

  • Identify Collaborators:

    • Assembling teams of like-minded individuals to address shared research problems.

    • Potential collaboration networks include former classmates/schoolmates, workplace colleagues, and professional association members.

    • Facilitates diverse perspectives that spark new research concepts through structured discussion.

Stage 2: Funding

Funding encompasses securing financial resources to execute the developed research idea:

  • Learn Grant Seeking Tools:

    • Seeking grant opportunities provided by institutions, foundations, governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and universities.

    • Application workflow:

    1. Researcher submits an application and formal proposal letter.

    2. Granting body conducts a thorough evaluation/investigation.

    3. Granting body communicates final selection decisions to the applicant.

  • Identify Specific Grant Opportunities:

    • Targeting specialized grant calls tailored to specific discipline needs.

    • Grant calls are posted on discipline-relevant organizational websites (e.g., librarianship grant announcements are published on the Nigerian Library Association website rather than a Geosciences platform).

  • Find Alternative Funding Sources:

    • Utilized when standard grant avenues are exhausted without success.

    • Examples include personal savings, loans from family or friends, and workplace cooperative loans.

Stage 3: Proposal

The proposal stage forms the research blueprint, presenting a problem statement and methodological plan understandable to non-specialists:

  • Prepare Data Management:

    • Developing strategies for how research data will be collected, preserved, and shared.

    • Deciding whether to utilize primary data, secondary data, or a hybrid approach.

  • Describe Data:

    • Providing explicit details regarding data types:

    • Primary Data: Gathered via observations, surveys, and focus groups.

    • Secondary Data: Retrieved from existing theses, journals, or online sources.

  • Navigate Repository Options:

    • Selecting appropriate digital repositories for archiving research output.

    • Standard practice mandates depositing academic papers, projects, and theses into university institutional repositories.

Stage 4: Conducting

The conducting stage represents the execution phase of research methodology:

  • Manage Citations:

    • Formally acknowledging authors and original sources used throughout the study.

    • Software tools for citation management:

    • Cite this for me

    • CiteULike

    • EndNote

    • Mendeley

    • Zotero

  • Conduct Systematic Reviews:

    • Formulating explicit research questions.

    • Methodically searching literature for relevant studies.

    • Critically appraising and extracting data required to answer the research questions.

Stage 5: Disseminating

Dissemination involves distributing completed research findings to the broader academic community and public:

  • Select Journals:

    • Evaluating journal selection based on impact factors (high-impact vs. lower-impact ratings).

    • Aligning journal selection with researcher budgets and publication schedules (free access, annual, bi-annual, or quarterly publishing frequency).

  • Identify Open Access Journals in the Field:

    • Locating open access publications that allow unrestricted reading and downloading for all users.

  • Manage Copyright:

    • Securing exclusive legal rights over original research outputs.

  • Cite Grants:

    • Explicitly acknowledging research funding bodies in publications.

    • Helps future researchers without personal funds discover prospective funding sources.

  • Track Research Impact:

    • Reporting project outcomes and gathering community feedback.

    • Feedback acts as a quantitative and qualitative measurement tool for funding bodies.

  • Deposit Work in Digital Repository:

    • Uploading completed final papers or theses into an institutional digital repository or selected discipline repository.