|
RECORDS MANAGEMENT DEFINED
RIM is the systematic management of records and information through its various life cycles. It includes the analysis, design, implementation and management of manual and automated systems regardless of format or medium.
Information is at the center of everything an organization does: strategy management, research and development and compliance. How the organization manages that information and its corporate records can directly affect its ability to compete, comply with regulations, and recover from disaster
Records and Information Management Systems provide efficient methods for organizing:
 Correspondence, Documents and Reports
Active and Semi-Active Files
Records Centres
Microforms and Images
Retention Schedules
Vital Records
Archives
Forms and Manuals
Electronic Data
WHAT ARE RECORDS?
Records are evidence of what an organization does. They capture its business activities and transactions such as: contract negotiations, business correspondence, personnel files and financial statements, just to name a few.
Records come in many formats:
Physical paper in our files, such as memos, contracts, marketing materials and reports
Electronic messages such as e-mail content, e-mail attachments and instant messages
Content on the website, as well as the documents that reside on PDAs, flash drives, desktops, servers, and document management systems
Information captured in the organization's various databases
When there's a lawsuit, all of these - including the copies that individuals have retained and any items prematurely deleted or destroyed -may be identified as discoverable. This means they could be used against the organization in a lawsuit.
WHY IS RECORDS MANAGEMENT IMPORTANT?
Records are information assets and hold value for the organization. Organizations have a duty to all stakeholders to manage them effectively in order to maximize profit, control cost, and ensure the vitality of the organization. Effective records management ensures that the information needed is retrievable, authentic, and accurate. This requires:
Setting and following organizational policies and best practices
Identifying who is responsible and accountable for managing records
Creating, communicating and executing procedures consistently
Integrating best practices and process flows with other departments throughout the organization
Identifying vital records and establishing guidelines to maintain business continuity after a disruption or disaster
Employees use records and information daily to:
Perform daily business transactions
Deliver goods and services consistently and with integrity
Comply with legislative and regulatory requirements
Manage risk
Protect the interests of all stakeholders inside and outside of the organization
Provide documentation of research for the development of products and services
Preserve the organizational identity and history
|
|
