Consulting is another facet of the information services provided by King's Strategic Research Department. We are working with the Bulgarians and others in Eastern Europe to support their information needs and to show them how to do research. For example, they need help in identifying sources of Western financial information. They've had little experience with this. Records management is the other area in which they need help.
Information is technology, in the sense that it is part of the infrastructure of the organization.
At the same time, information is a product. This dual definition has led King to a partnership relationship with CMP's Information Systems department, a partnership he admits has not always been in existence. At one point, the Information department was subservient to the Information Systems department, which was charged with looking after computer operations. Now working as equals, they've found ways in which their missions can coincide rather than collide. This partnering has been a major coup for King.