When faced with information management issues, particularly those in a cross-functional setting, many business and IT professionals turn, albeit often unwittingly, toward Enterprise Information Management (EIM). EIM is the effort and practice of reaching across all data and application silos embedded in the organization's operating infrastructure; then binding those repositories together into one effective information management environment where information is delivered to the person who needs it, when they need it, and how they need it. EIM, as the term denotes, spans the entire corporation, regardless of size, from a small, 30-person garment maker to a 50,000-person, multi-national manufacturer. Agility, accuracy, and completeness of data delivery are the three primary objectives. An EIM initiative will often be launched well after the organization has implemented its patchwork infrastructure of disparate repositories and applications, signifying a creeping recognition that data integration is broader than individual systems and organizations.

An entire book would be needed to expose EIM to the depth and breadth that it deserves. The goal of this paper is to paint the EIM landscape, noting its components but focusing on the importance of an overarching EIM strategy that focuses on corporate objectives while at the same time offering cross-functional support. Knowing that EIM exists is the first step towards understanding how business issues fit in the information picture. With that overall view, the business and IT manager will be better equipped to discuss, compose requirements, and draft designs for the modern information management environment.