How often do you save an email, print an extra copy, or file away documents for a later date that never comes? When added up over time and multiplied by hundreds of employees, those simple acts can quickly lead to cluttered desktops, overflowing email boxes, and jam-packed file cabinets. That’s where good ‘data hygiene’ can make a difference.
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Good data management is important for making sure our information and data resources are always top-notch. That means getting rid of outdated, inaccurate or poor-quality information. It also involves organising and securing our most complete, verified and up-to-date information and materials.
The problem is, not everyone gives data hygiene the attention it deserves. Thankfully, our ABG Global Ethics & Compliance team is here to help! The group is working directly with teams throughout CUK to roll out updated records and information management practices to help us all keep our data tidy.
Why Care about Good Data Management Practices?
Good records and information management makes it easier to quickly find the data you need. But there are other reasons to practice good data hygiene. Here are just a few:
- Saves time: Digging through hundreds of emails or stacks of papers to find a document wastes valuable time and energy, meaning even simple tasks can take longer than necessary.
- Inspires confidence: Getting rid of old drafts, duplicate copies and outdated information gives you the peace of mind that you’re using the latest drafts and most updated data.
- Supports decision making: You may have heard the expression, ‘Garbage in, garbage out.’ Complete, accurate and up-to-date data is essential for effective decision making.
- Improves focus: Clutter is distracting, which can reduce creativity and productivity. Purging old information and materials can help you focus more clearly on the things that matter.
- Safeguards sensitive data: Our employees, guests and partners trust us with sensitive information – from passport numbers to credit card data to medical histories and more. Deleting sensitive data you no longer need or properly securing it with encryption can help reduce the chance of it accidentally ending up in the wrong hands.
- Supports our Culture Essentials: Our Culture Essentials are rooted in ethics and compliance. Good records and information management enables us to better comply with government laws and industry regulations.
Like most things, practice makes perfect. The more often you exercise good data hygiene, the easier it gets and the better the results.
Make a habit of routinely updating and cleaning out records and information to declutter your physical and virtual work space. Plus, stay tuned for more information from our Global Ethics & Compliance team about updated data and records management practices.