Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module student should be able to:
- describe the place of electronic records in today's context
- define and describe electronic records
- outline strategies to manage electronic records
- discuss the issues surrounding the preservation of and access to electronic records
- describe electronic records management in an office environment
- state basic measures to ensure the security of electronic records and list the main regulations and legislation which impact on electronic recordkeeping
Brief description
Records management is an essential tool to enable organisations to operate efficiently, transparently and accountably. Records managers are experts in storing and retrieving information and through record surveys and functional analysis, they are in a position to have a global view of organisational activity and the flow of information. Their skills have been developed in the context of paper records.
Although records management started out as an archival tool, its role is now being re-defined in response to technological and organisational change. Paper records which can be touched, read and understood are being replaced with elusive, intangible records which exist in cyber-space without a concrete form. Organisations which operate in this pressurised, networked environment are increasingly relying upon technological solutions for the management of their information. Nowadays many organisations are adopting Electronic Records Management Systems (ERMS) as a 'solution' to their recordkeeping problems.
Records managers have the experience of managing information and must take this into the electronic arena and take a central place in organisational policy-making.