How does your RIM program measure up?TITLE: Records and Information Management: A Benchmarking Study of Large U.S. Industrial Companies AUTHOR: William Saffady ISBN ISBN abbr. International Standard Book Number ISBN International Standard Book Number ISBN n abbr (= International Standard Book Number) → ISBN m : 1-931786-02-X PUBLISHER: ARMA International PUBLICATION DATE: 2002 LENGTH: 75 pages PRICE: $149 for ARMA members; $275 for nonmembers (Available for download only) SOURCE: ARMA International Bookstore (www.arma.org) Like ice skating ice skating, gliding along an ice surface on keellike runners known as ice skates. Skating as a Sport Skating, besides being an important form of winter recreation and the essential skill in the game of ice hockey (see hockey, ice) has developed or gymnastics, records and information management programs vary according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. their practitioners' skill levels. As with any subjectively judged endeavor, RIM programs tend to be evaluated based on what they lack rather than on what they have, and the absence of objective benchmarks means that no one really knows how they are doing compared to their peers. William Saffady's latest book seeks to remedy this situation by giving corporate records managers a way to compare their companies' practices with those of other firms. To accomplish this, Saffady began with the Fortune 1000 list and identified 350 large companies with records management programs. The author then conducted extensive telephone interviews with RIM professionals in 42 U.S. industrial companies--yeoman's work, considering the challenges involved in arranging the interviews, talking to Noun 1. talking to - a lengthy rebuke; "a good lecture was my father's idea of discipline"; "the teacher gave him a talking to" lecture, speech rebuke, reprehension, reprimand, reproof, reproval - an act or expression of criticism and censure; "he had to participants, and then recording and reporting the findings. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, gaining permission meant promising the participants and their companies anonymity. A list of participating companies would have been useful in determining how many companies represented each industrial category, for example, how many energy companies or pharmaceutical makers were involved, and for allowing readers to put responses into better perspective. In the current competitive climate, however, most corporations are highly sensitive Adj. 1. highly sensitive - readily affected by various agents; "a highly sensitive explosive is easily exploded by a shock"; "a sensitive colloid is readily coagulated" to how and where they appear in print, so reluctance is not surprising. The book does offer surprises, however. For example, vital records generally receive lower priority and less attention than retention schedules and off-site storage matters. The findings also highlight contrasts between theoretical principles and real-world priorities. Several interviewees recognize retention schedule revision as a cornerstone of RIM programs, but cite limited staff resources and the need to devote time to more pressing activities such as litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. support or mergers and acquisitions. Most records management professionals will agree that program performance is often constrained by available budgets, staffing levels, and perceptions based on RIM's organizational placement. Managers will find the discussions of RIM program history, organization, staffing, reporting relationships, and budgets particularly interesting. To his credit, Saffady uses RIM program age as one yardstick by which to gauge activity levels, so those involved with newer programs have a reasonable comparative basis that is distinguished from programs of greater maturity. Strategic planners, management analysts, and records personnel will find the sections on records retention, electronic records, training, compliance, off-site storage, vital records, filing systems, micrographics The production, handling and use of microfilm and microfiche. Images are created by cameras or by COM units that accept computer output directly. The documents are magnified for human viewing by readers, some of which can automatically locate a page using indexing techniques. , and electronic document imaging quite useful. Readers likely will gravitate grav·i·tate intr.v. grav·i·tat·ed, grav·i·tat·ing, grav·i·tates 1. To move in response to the force of gravity. 2. To move downward. 3. to specific sections rather than read this book cover to cover. The author cautions that the work is meant to be descriptive rather than evaluative, and while Saffady's writing style is always highly readable, reporting on percentages of responses can get repetitive, and a bit confusing in places--the discussion of consultant recommendations for functional vs. departmental retention schedules gets a bit tangled. The graphs throughout the text do aid understanding, but some tables would have been helpful as well, particularly in those areas where RIM program age separates the findings. Those pressed for time will appreciate chapter 19, an excellent summary of the significant findings. Disappointments are relatively minor. The discussion of document management software is abbreviated to less than a page, presumably pre·sum·a·ble adj. That can be presumed or taken for granted; reasonable as a supposition: presumable causes of the disaster. because records and information managers have limited involvement with these systems. There is no mention of records management software, a curious omission by any standard. Passages that report the practices of only two or three participants sometimes seem anecdotal compared with greater percentages for the majority of participants. In keeping with its objective of describing practices, the narrative does not attempt to explain why, leaving the reader hungry in some places for more insight and meaning. The book is a wonderful source of tips and ideas generously shared by colleagues that both novice and old-timer will find useful. The methods for determining program compliance in chapter 10 illustrate this point. Considering that something now exists where there was nothing before, and given its potential usefulness to the entire profession, this first study of its kind in the field earns Saffady high marks for both technical and artistic merit Artistic merit is an English language term that is used in relation to cultural products when referring to the judgment of their perceived quality or value as works of art. Artistic merit is a crucial term, as pertains to visual art. . Julie Gable, CRM (Customer Relationship Management) An integrated information system that is used to plan, schedule and control the presales and postsales activities in an organization. , CDIA See CompTIA. , is the Principal of Gable Consulting, the Associate Executive Editor of The Information Management Journal, and a contributing editor A contributing editor is a magazine job title that varies in responsibilities. Most often, a contributing editor is a freelancer who has proven ability and readership draw. for Transform Magazine. She may be reached at JulieGable@aol.com. |
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