Electronic records management in Australia
| Date | 01 March 1997 |
| Published date | 01 March 1997 |
| Pages | 191-204 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/eb027111 |
| Author | BARBARA REED |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Electronic records management in
Australia
BARBARA REED
Abstract
Australia's approach to electronic records in the 1990s has been characterised by
strategic approaches which seek to put in place frameworks for recordkeeping in
which there is room for collaboration and experimentation in approaches. In
doing so, existing paper paradigms relating to records have been reconceptu-
alised in order to define different ways of achieving our goals of reliable and
authentic evidence of business activity. This paper explores the variety of strate-
gic recordkeeping initiatives in the context of Australian records management
practice.
Introduction
Australia, from an insider's viewpoint, is an exciting place to be in rela-
tion to electronic records management. In this country we have stopped
edging warily around the periphery of the problems and have flung our-
selves into the collective endeavour of coming up with ways to solve
them. Much of what we have achieved has reinvigorated our profession,
in the process redefining the boundaries of records management and
archives. We are realising some of our strengths in this area and identi-
fying some of our weaknesses. We have established alliances with other
professional groups and started working collaboratively across informa-
tion communities. The rosy picture, however, does need to be tempered
with the reality. Too frequently, we confront an organisational culture
where recordkeeping is marginalised and the solutions proposed for elec-
tronic recordkeeping are too radical for easy incorporation into ordinary
workplaces. At a strategic level, here too, we have made significant
strides to alter that. If success is measured as implemented solutions, our
achievements are similar to those in other countries. If success can be
measured as potential outcomes, our achievements look much more
positive.
Records Management Journal,
vol 7, no 3,
December 1997,
pp
191-204
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