The Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM), an affiliate of nima, has released a new Information Management good practice guide designed to support organisations across the built environment in strengthening how they manage and use information. For the digital construction sector, the guide reinforces the idea that information is part of an organisation’s critical infrastructure and positions workplace and facilities management (WFM) as a central contributor to effective information governance.
The publication sets out a structured framework to help WFM professionals embed robust information management across the full asset lifecycle. It highlights that well organised, trustworthy and interoperable data is essential for compliance, operational performance, assurance, ESG reporting and wider organisational resilience. As demand grows for reliable digital information in construction and facilities management, the guide aims to give organisations a practical route to more consistent and outcome-focused practices.
Five-layer model
Authored by Gordon Mitchell, chair of the IWFM Technology Special Interest Group, the guide has been developed with input from experts and peer reviewers from across the sector. It introduces a Five-Layer Model that brings together people, process, data, technology and context. This model is intended to help organisations align roles and responsibilities, standardise workflows, create structured information, implement supporting systems and ensure decisions meet regulatory, strategic and ESG requirements. The guide also forms part of the wider Information Management Initiative (IMI) led by nima, which is driving a coordinated approach to digital information across the built environment.
A key theme is that information management is a whole-business activity. While leadership sets direction, success depends on consistent practices across all teams, with WFM professionals acting as a central point for integrating information created long before handover. IWFM’s Director of External Affairs, Insight and Impact, Jenny Thomas, notes that early decisions about information shape operational outcomes and costs for many years, making lifecycle thinking essential.
For digital construction professionals, the guide provides a structured pathway for improving information quality and strengthening organisational value. By supporting clear processes and reliable data, it offers a foundation for more resilient workplaces and better long-term asset performance.
The IWFM is planning a lunchtime webinar about the guide, with nima representation, on 21 January 2026.
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