Revisiting the information audit: A systematic literature review and synthesis

The purpose of this paper is to revitalize the theory and practice of the Information Audit (IA) by connecting it with recent developments in information management theories and methods While the IA is a powerful information management practice, the methods and applications of IA have not been wedded to recent developments in the study of information management capability and information quality management. This study addresses that gap. The paper also introduces and applies a systematic methodology for conducting literature reviews that combines concept mapping, review scoping, and a structured search and analysis process. The resulting search in Scopus and Proquest and subsequent analysis of the recent literature (2011-2016) on IA and quality, evaluation, measurement, and maturity in the context of information management yielded the following findings and recommendations. IA research and practice could do well to: pursue contingency frameworks rather than seek universal standardization; investigate the relationship between IA and the dimensions of information quality and information management quality; undertake case studies that apply more foundational IA methodologies in full; develop theories of IA maturity and IA maturity modelling methods; recognize that measurement and evaluation of information management quality and information quality are necessary elements of the IA and should be explicitly incorporated into IA methodology.