Cost of information

Cost of information is the cost of obtaining, processing, storing, distributing and using information in an organization. It is a measure of the resources invested in information management and includes the costs of hardware, software, personnel, and other resources that are used to create, store, protect, and disseminate information. It is a management concept used to evaluate the economic aspects of information technology investments and to determine the return on investment (ROI).

Example of cost of information

• The purchase and installation of software used to store, process, and analyze data is a common example of a cost of information. This includes costs associated with the software itself, such as licensing fees, as well as the costs associated with training personnel to use the software, upgrading it to newer versions, and maintaining it over time.
• Another example of a cost of information is the cost of hiring and training personnel to manage the information. This includes costs associated with recruiting and hiring qualified personnel, providing them with the necessary training, and providing them with the resources they need to do their job.
• Additionally, organizations must also consider the costs associated with storing and protecting information. This includes the cost of physical storage systems, such as servers and hard drives, as well as the costs associated with ensuring that the information is protected from unauthorized access and manipulation.
• Finally, there are also costs associated with sharing and distributing information. This includes the costs of printing and distributing information, providing access to information through websites or other online platforms, and the costs associated with providing customer service and support.

Formula of cost of information

Cost of Information (COI) = Hardware Cost + Software Cost + Personnel Cost + Other Resource Costs

• Hardware Cost: This is the cost of all the physical equipment used to store and retrieve information such as servers, storage devices, and computers.
• Software Cost: This is the cost of all the software used to manage information such as databases, applications, and operating systems.
• Personnel Cost: This is the cost of all the personnel needed to manage the information such as administrators and IT support staff.
• Other Resource Costs: This is the cost of other resources needed to maintain the information management system such as electricity, cooling, and maintenance.

Total Cost of Information = Hardware Cost + Software Cost + Personnel Cost + Other Resource Costs

Types of cost of information

Cost of information includes a variety of costs associated with the acquisition, processing, storage, and dissemination of information. This includes the cost of hardware, software, personnel, and other resources used to create, store, protect, and share data. These costs can be broken down into the following categories:

• Acquisition cost: Cost associated with acquiring information, such as purchasing data from third-party sources and the cost of collecting data internally.
• Processing cost: Cost associated with processing information, such as preparing data for analysis and creating reports.
• Storage cost: Cost associated with storing information, such as hosting data in the cloud or managing physical data storage devices.
• Distribution cost: Cost associated with distributing information, such as printing and mailing documents or sharing data electronically.
• Usage cost: Cost associated with using information, such as paying for subscriptions or licenses to access databases.
• Maintenance cost: Cost associated with maintaining information, such as updating software and hardware or training personnel to use information systems.

Other approaches related to cost of information

Cost of information management is an important concept used to evaluate the economic aspects of information technology investments and to determine the return on investment (ROI). There are other approaches related to cost of information management, including:

• Cost of ownership - This approach focuses on the long-term costs associated with owning and maintaining information systems, such as hardware and software, personnel, and other resources.
• Cost of compliance - This approach considers the cost of complying with legal and regulatory requirements, such as data privacy and security.
• Cost of risk - This approach assesses the risks associated with using or sharing information and the associated costs of mitigating those risks.
• Cost of opportunity - This approach evaluates the potential costs of not having access to the right information at the right time.

Cost of information — recommended articles

Security policy — Intellectual property protection — Information technology management — Privacy and security — Information system security — Information risk — Information life cycle — Technology transfer — Offshoring and outsourcing

References

• Faist, P., Dupuis, F., Oppenheim, J., & Renner, R. (2015). The minimal work cost of information processing. Nature communications, 6(1), 7669.
• King, J. L., & Schrems, E. L. (1978). Cost-benefit analysis in information systems development and operation. ACM Computing Surveys (CSUR), 10(1), 19-34.