Benefits of Records Management
Records management processes are embedded in an increasing
number of companies as a means to manage risk and cost. Records
managers, who are often dually qualified as archivists, are able to
set up and implement records management programmes at relatively
low cost to the organisation but with great strategic benefits:
- improved compliance with statutory and regulatory records
requirements - improved access to records in response to external audit and
regulatory enquiries / legal discovery issues - improved access to company information and intellectual
property - reduction in retention of duplicate and ephemeral records
- better management information for strategic
decision-making - improved cost-efficiency in records storage/ office
accommodation - improved cost-efficiency in electronic records storage and
retrieval - improved business continuity planning by identifiying and
managing critical records - reduced risk that critical records are mis-managed or
misplaced - records of archival value are identified at source and captured
by the records management process
While some of these individual benefits can be achieved by good
departmental controls, there is an over-riding advantage of a
company-wide process that raises standards across all teams and
departments and can identify issues and solutions around
inter-disciplinary and project team activity. A company-wide
approach supports electronic records in particular, where policies
for file storage, database management and email retention benefit
from records management as well as IT expertise. For more
information about records management principles and practice visit
the websites of The National Archives, the Information and Records Management Society or ARMA International (Association of Records Managers and
Administrators) at:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/