Raising The Profile Of The Records Management Profession
Raising The Profile Of The Records Management Profession
September 19, 2006: Susan McKinney, International President of ARMA, the Association for Information Management, says that Records Managers have some interesting challenges ahead and a duty to ensure information management is taken seriously.
Speaking at the 23rd International Convention of the RMAA this week, Ms Mckinney addressed an audience of approximately 300 at the *** Hotel in Cairns.
Providing a timeline of records management over the past 500 years, Ms McKinney made note of how technology has interrupted the methods of records management yet done little to increase awareness of the issue. “The records management profession has not changed since the 1600’s, how we do it however, has”
She explained how the increasing amount of mobile devices greatly affecting the ways an organisations does business is adding to the challenges of Records Managers. “Never before have people been able to carry around so much information,” she said. “We have to think how to manage this information, so that we can reach it in 10, 20, 30 years. Most others only need to think in the now.”
Referring to a recent spate of incidents involving records management, Ms McKinney stated examples of such disasters could be the best means to raising the profile of the profession and ensuring senior management takes the issue seriously. “Every week, something happens,” she said.
In terms of standards for records management, Ms Mckinney praised the efforts of Australia. “We always look to Australia for these standards - due to the strong government leadership,” she said. “If Australia can do it, why can’t we?”
Ms McKinney finished up by advising her audience to ‘go out and be Records Managers!’ She is due to present three information sessions in Tasmania later this week.