By first outlining the steps and findings of an information audit carried out within the firm, conclusions are then drawn as to what measures should be taken in order to increase the effectiveness of Lanways information usage.

The measures suggested are outlined in detail, with recommendations of both hardware and software. The report also establishes the need for information and for a company information strategy - highlighting the importance of aligning such a strategy with the overall business plan.

Lanway Corporate Business Systems began trading in 1985 from a small market stall on Burnley market. Selling games only for the Spectrum range of computers (the most popular at that time) it began to build up a regular customer base. The firm continued in this way, until 1991 where the introduction of the personal computer led to a change in product and business activity.

With the introduction of both new hardware and software, Lanway was no

No one information store was available, in which staff could save data collected, such as URL's or product catalogue's, and in some cases, staff were not aware extranet facilities existed. As such, each individual employee held their own specific ideas and information on using the internet and in many cases time was wasted performing repetitive tasks and retrieving duplicate information.

Due to the nature of Lanways business activity, the range of products sold goes beyond vast and continues to increase by the day. Because of this the firm receives numerous literature on a daily basis. No formal filing system exists, all booklets are "thrown" onto double desks, or kept by the employee whom it was addressed to. Again issues regarding the availability and relevance of the information are brought into question. Important reference material or current news articles and magazines therefore become unavailable, simply because most employees do not know they exist.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Wide Web, Information Hickie, Virtual Drivetm, Business Systems, Emails Data, Audit Commission, Summary Information, Information Policy, Microsoft Webtm, Lanway Information, company information, internal company, information ·, hardware software, internal company information, information audit, · internal, · internal company, · current, company information ·, internal external sources, technical support information, external sources, internal external, available employees,
Approximate Word count = 3174
Approximate Pages = 13 (250 words per page double spaced)