Research Program

AIEF is the leading non-profit supporter of the information management community’s efforts to address contemporary challenges. We strive, with carefully considered research priorities, to fund projects that will make a difference in information management – discovering and presenting unique or expanded knowledge, aiding in maximizing the value of information management, and making a positive contribution to the global perception of the information management profession.

AIEF expects the research it funds to act as a catalyst in the evolution of information management best practices. The research program addresses multiple professional audiences dealing with information management in their organizations. It looks to fund the types of research projects that will assist information management professionals in their day-to-day tasks while advancing the profession as a whole:

  • Theoretical Research: Information gathered from individuals about demographics, preferences, values, and needs to provide for AIEFd products and services to the information management profession.
  • Empirical Research: Primary research commonly conducted by graduate students or in environments influenced by academia.
  • Business and Industry Trends and Best Practices: Studies on common practices, as well as best practices in business that affect information management professionals and/or the profession.
  • Environmental Scanning: Data collection on business, political, economic, social, and technological trends that affect the information management industry.

Research Program Strategy

AIEF’s research program recognizes the importance of the body of knowledge and practice that informs the information management field, anticipates where it is headed, and determines what it can do to support information management issues, challenges, questions, opportunities, and/or possibilities. AIEF seeks to support research that addresses key issues and practical approaches that will add to the knowledge base and enhance the ability of practitioners to address their professional responsibilities. Its strategy is to:

  • Maintain a prioritized research agenda to guide the funding of projects to be conducted by qualified researchers.
  • Fund, publish, and disseminate research conducted by qualified individuals.
  • Form alliances with other RIM research-funding bodies and fund, publish, and disseminate research with them.

Research / Topic Proposal

AIEF welcomes well-developed research proposals for conducting fundable research. For additional information about research proposals, see Research Agenda & Proposal Guidelines.

Evaluation of Proposals

The Research Committee reviews all research topic submissions or generates a topic from within the Committee and – as funding is available – selects proposals based on its guidelines, the funding priorities in the Research Agenda & Proposal Guidelines.

Completed Projects

If the research topic or proposal is developed into a research project funded and contracted by the Foundation, the Foundation will control copyright. The Foundation will publish the report on its website at no charge to interested parties. See Research Reports for a list of completed research projects.