Moving Towards an Inspiring and Influential Records Manager?

Conference 2010 S20 - Tuesday 11.30am

Inspiring and influential records management is becoming more important due to the current situation of challenging finances, both in the private and public sector. Information must meet the needs of current working practices by being available 24hours, by self-service and for mobile working and hot desking. With the need to comply to tighter regulations, the prospect of half a million pound fines and meeting public expectations, there are benefits of having information all in one place but there are real worries about access and security.

Information systems are becoming increasingly complex, and there is a need to streamline and integrate systems and the information they hold in order to reduce the customer experience of repeated contact. This can also help ensure the reduction of duplication and costs. Systems need to work for people and not the other way round.

Conflicting service priorities mean that data is often processed in ways that do not benefit the customer or organisation. There is often a silo mentality regarding information, and the organisation is retaining too much worthless information. People are the most important resource, and while there is no money for training, it is essential that staff are equipped with records management skills.

So how are we improving information use? The customer experience needs to be streamlined by recording information as close to the source as possible, by verifying information already held by the organisation and by allowing customers to access and update their own information online. Information silos need to be challenged and the holding of duplicate information eliminated. All information assets have a documented owner and the number of information systems will be reduced. Corporate formats for recording common datasets need to be developed and obsolete data will be ruthlessly destroyed. Ultimately employees will be supported and empowered to improve the management of information.

S20.pdf (.pdf, 69.6 KB)

Simon Guild, London Borough of Merton

Simon Guild has spent the last 10 years working in Information Governance for voluntary and local government organisations. Initially focusing... more...

Cerys Ledger, London Borough of Merton

Cerys was awarded the Records Manager of the Year Award 2009 from The Records Management Society, and is currently in... more...

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