Ways of seeing: contextualising the continuum
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/09565691011036224 |
| Pages | 41-52 |
| Date | 30 March 2010 |
| Published date | 30 March 2010 |
| Author | Kate Cumming |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management |
Ways of seeing: contextualising
the continuum
Kate Cumming
State Records Authority of New South Wales, Kingswood, Australia
Abstract
Purpose – In this commemorative issue of Records Management Journal ,milestones from the last 20
years of recordkeeping practice are being celebrated. This paper aims to provide a retrospective of the
records continuum and examine its evolution, its impact and its influence, and to reference some of the
controversy it has inspired.
Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on a review of literature and a historical
assessment, which are intended to contextualise and explain the continuum.
Findings – The continuum has a long history in Australian recordkeeping culture, but significant
international research and theory have also fed into its development. The continuum has an enduring
relevance and remains a fundamental tool for assessing and realigning recordkeeping practice today.
Research limitations/implications – The paper is strongly supportive of the continuum
approach, and as such is not an impartial assessment of the model and of the criticism that has
been levelled against it.
Practical implications – It is hoped that the paper helps to foster further understanding and use of
the records continuum model.
Originality/value – While owing a great deal to Sue McKemmish and Frank Upward, the paper
aims to present a fresh perspective on continuum theory, in a way that helps to explain and encourage
the adoption of continuum-based approaches to recordkeeping.
Keywords Records management,Working practices, Research
Paper type Research paper
Leafing through the pages of Records Management Journal one can see that many
articles have been published that reference continuum theory, written by those that
have been angered, confounded or inspired by it. While primarily demonstrating the
balanced editorial perspective of the journal, the number of articles challenging,
debating, endorsing, advocating or explaining continuum-based perspectives also
shows the impact that the continuum has had on the last 20 years of recordkeeping. In
a retrospective of pivotal events in recent recordkeeping history, it is therefore worth
reinvestigating the continuum and re-examining its intent.
Essence of the continuum concept
At its essence the continuum is essentially a way of seeing. It is a framework by which
records and recordkeeping can be seen and understood as a coherent whole but also as
the composite of their component parts. In contrast to other management strategies,
which traditionally have focussed on separating records and archives and making the
management of each a separate and discrete profession, continuum management is a
unified strategy. It identifies the commonality between all forms of recordkeeping and
recordkeeping processes. It is not linear and time-bound in the way that traditional
records and archival management are. The continuum is instead a mechanism for
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0956-5698.htm
Contextualising
the continuum
41
Received 17 December 2009
Revised 8 January 2010
Accepted 13 January 2010
Records Management Journal
Vol. 20 No. 1, 2010
pp. 41-52
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0956-5698
DOI 10.1108/09565691011036224
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