January/February 2015
http://imm.arma.org/publication/?i=241225
FEATURES
Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles Series
Principles for Assessing an IG Program
Julie Gable, CRM, CDIA, FAI
Assessing an information governance program is an exercise in gathering information, interpreting it, and using it to strategize the best course for improvement. An assessment requires thoughtful planning and decision making to determine the correct scope, participants, and methodology, and it is best done as a team effort.
From RFP to Selection: Guidance for Outsourcing RIM Functions
Dave Bergeson, Ph.D., CAE
When outsourcing RIM functions, it is imperative to develop an RFP that clearly conveys your specific needs, prioritize your selection criteria, and get to know potential providers by touring their facilities and asking the right questions. This article provides guidance for ensuring a successful outcome.
Count the Cost: Quantifying Your Vital Records Risk
William Saffady, Ph.D., FAI
Quantitative risks assessment, which uses numeric calculations to measure the likelihood and impact of the loss of specific vital records, provides a solid basis for planning how to protect them.
SPOTLIGHTS
RIM Fundamentals Series
8 Steps to Effective Information Lifecycle Management
Melissa Dederer, IGP, CRM, and April Dmytrenko, CRM, FAI
Implementing an effective information lifecycle management program provides significant, long-term benefits, including improved information availability, reduced costs and risks, and optimized business efficiencies.
In Review
Turning the Big Data Crush into an Advantage
Anissa C. Hudy, J.D.
In The Big Data Crush, author Christopher Surdak discusses what is driving big data, how big data is affecting businesses, and how businesses must respond to leverage big data successful.
In Review
Standard Practices for Primary Archives Management Tasks
Stephen E. Haller, CRM
The initial volume in the Society of American Archivists’ “Trends in Archives Practice” series, Archival Arrangement and Description, will be useful for experienced and new archivists, as well as those in related professions. Its three modules are “Standards for Archival Description,” Processing Digital Records and Manuscripts,” and “Designing Descriptive and Access Systems.”
Up Front
News, trends, and analysis of interest to you and your organization
In Focus: A Message from the Editor
Assess to Be ‘the Best’ in 2015
Vicki Wiler
March/April 2015
http://imm.arma.org/publication/frame.php?i=247767&p=&pn=&ver=flex
FEATURES
Designing a Records Audit: A Controls-Based Approach
Andrew Altepeter
Using a controls-based approach to auditing information governance program compliance can help ensure a focused scope, collaborative effort among appropriate stakeholders, quantifiable findings, and trackable remediation progress.
Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles Series
Principles for Outsourcing Mission-Critical Business Processes
Julie Gable, CRM, CDIA, FAI
Organizations that outsource mission-critical business processes have a distinct challenge ensuring their information is properly managed, as service providers are not just storing the organization’s information, they are using highly automated processes to create, process, and use it. This article discusses how it must also be governed.
The Cookie Trail: Why IG Pros Must Follow the Crumbs The 2015 Britt Literary Award Winner for
Mark Grysiuk, CIP
Information governance (IG) professionals must understand evolving online tracking technologies and take a leading role in ensuring that their organizations are in compliance with privacy laws and regulations that apply to them. This article provides an overview of the technologies and suggestions actions IG professionals should take.
SPOTLIGHTS
Business Matters
Checklists for Evaluating Electronic Records Storage Protections
ARMA International Standards Development Program Workgroup
The three checklists this article excerpts from the technical report Understanding Electronic Records Storage Technologies (ARMA International TR 26-2014) will help organizations evaluate how well their records will be protected by potential third-party records storage providers.
In Review
A Comprehensive Information Governance Resource
Robert Bailey, Ph.D., CRM
In Information Governance: Concepts, Strategies and Best Practices author Robert Smallwood presents information governance (IG) in a high-level, clear, and concise way that is helpful for students, records and information management professionals, those studying for the Information Governance Professional exam, and executive-level IG stakeholders.
In Review
Following the Data Trail for Competitive Advantage
Mary Broughall
The Decoded Company: Know Your Talent Better Than You Know Your Customers examines and describes methods to use the data we track about everything around us. According to the authors, a decoded company - one that is “talent-centric, data-drive, flexible, and fast” - has the key to sustainable competitive advantage.
In Review
Culture: The Key to Records Program Success
Meribeth Plenert
Records Management and Information Culture: Tackling the People Problem describes what information culture is, why it is important, how to analyze an organization’s culture, and how to use the results of the analysis.
Up Front
News, trends, and analysis of interest to you and your organization
In Focus: A Message from the Editor
Establishing and Monitoring the Right Metrics for RIM Program Success
Vicki Wiler
May/June 2015
http://imm.arma.org/publication/frame.php?i=257026&p=&pn=&ver=flex
FEATURES
Digital Vellum and Other Cures for Bit Rot
Marc Kosciejew, Ph.D.
In the 20 years since digital preservation expert Jeff Rothenberg sounded the alarm about the danger of losing digital information--and our historical legacy--several methods of ensuring long-term digital preservation have been explored. Learn about the challenges and potential solutions in this article.
Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles Series
Using the Principles to Guide EDRM Software Decisions
Julie Gable, CRM, CDIA, FAI
The Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles provide the framework an organization can use to determine the functionality an electronic document and records management (EDRM) system must have to ensure information integrity, availability, protection, retention, and disposition. Successfully implementing an EDRM, though, is dependent on the organization’s ability to provide the specific information needed for the EDRM to automate information governance policies, procedures, and processes-- such as the appropriate classification scheme and properties for various types of metadata.
Avoiding the Hammer: Defensible Strategies for FRCP Proposed Rule 37(e)
Kathryn Aversano, J.D. and Joe Starnes, J.D.
Following these four principles for developing and implementing a preservation program for electronically stored information will help your organization be prepared for e-discovery and avoid adverse inferences, default judgments, and whatever other steps a court may take to restore “evidentiary balance” under the FRCP proposed rule 37(e). As a bonus, it will also aid with satisfying public disclosure requirements and accessing historical organizational records.
SPOTLIGHTS
RIM Fundamental Series
Taming the Information Explosion with Enterprise Content Management
Shiva Hullavarad, Ph.D.; Russell O’Hare, Ed.D., CRM; and Ashok Roy, Ph.D., CBA, CIA
As the fuel that powers each organization’s unique business processes, information must be captured, processed, accessed, measured, integrated, and stored effectively and efficiently. Implementing enterprise content management (ECM) can be a good solution for organizations to manage their information throughout its life cycle.
Case Study
Culture and Community: IG in the Global Arena
Nancy Dupre Barnes, Ph.D., CRM, CA
Because information governance (IG) professionals must embrace a modern, cross-cultural work environment, being attuned to cultural practices and sensitivities is important for successful collaboration with information stakeholders. Cultural stewardship also depends on IG, as shown in this case study about the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization World Heritage work to preserve cultural sites throughout the world.
In Review
Making Sense of Brontobytes
Judy Vasek Sitton, CRM
Think Bigger: Developing a Successful Big Data Strategy for Your Business explains what big data is, provides examples of how organizations can and have benefitted from it, and offers a big data roadmap for implementing suggested ideas.
Up Front
In Focus: A Message from the Editor
Protecting Organizations – and Culture – Through Digital Preservation
Vicki Wiler
July/August 2015
http://imm.arma.org/publication/frame.php?i=263314&p=20&pn=&ver=flex
FEATURES
Critical Steps to Creating a Consistent Preservation Hold Process
Richard Vestuto, J.D., and Bill Piwonka
Many organizations struggle to develop a cost-effective and defensible hold process. This article provides six steps to help organizations plan, automate, and communicate a legal hold process that will improve efficiency, reduce risks, and meet their preservation obligations.
Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles Series
The Principles and External Audits
Julie Gable, CRM, CDIA, FAI
External audits depend on documentation, and that can make them stressful, time-consuming, and psychologically draining for records and information management (RIM) professionals who have to produce the documentation quickly. Learn how to prepare for and respond to an audit and how basing your RIM program on the Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles can reduce the strain and deliver good results even when under intense scrutiny.
RIM’s Role in Harnessing the Power of Big Data
Kevin Dale, CRM
Organizations can maximize the returns on their big data strategies by giving records and information management (RIM) professionals a seat at the table. Applying RIM principles across the enterprise will help organizations improve the quality of their data and access to it, making big data analysis cheaper, quicker, more efficient, and more accurate.
Spotlights
Business Matters
Planning for and Managing During a Paper Document Disaster
William R. Gulley, Jr.
Whether disasters are natural or man-made, two things are certain: they happen practically every day, and they are costly. Every organization needs a disaster plan that is up-to-date, readily accessible, disseminated throughout the organization, and easily understood to effectively mitigate the effects of a disaster.
RIM Fundamentals
Records Management or Information Governance?
William Saffady, Ph.D., FAI
This excerpt from the upcoming third edition of Records and Information Management: The Fundamentals of Professional Practice, which will be published by ARMA International this fall, examines the purpose and scope of records management as a business discipline, defines records management and information governance, and places records management within the context of an information governance program.
In Review
A New Cataloging Standard for Today’s Varied Resources
Robert Bailey, Ph.D., CRM
RDA and Cartographic Resources is about the resource description and access (RDA) unified cataloging standard, which evolved from the Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules (AACR2). According to the reviewer, the book is a great reference for those who need to understand and apply this new standard to the large variety of materials and metadata formats in the library and records management professional.
In Review
Weighty Tome Is Light on Comprehensive RM Best Practices
Sheila Taylor, IGP, CRM
Designing an Effective Corporate Information , Knowledge Management, and Records Retention Compliance Program is designed to introduce basic records management fundamentals to attorneys that are expanding their practice to include records management (RM) and for others just starting in RM.
In Review
Distracted: You May Have ADT (No, Not the Home Security System...)
Beth Mellinger
Driven to Distraction at Work: How to Focus and Be More Productive introduces the term attention deficit trait (ADT), which is caused by one or more of six common distractions: screen sucking, multitasking, idea hopping, worrying, playing the hero, and dropping the ball. It includes access to a free assessment to help readers identify their areas of distraction before turning to the book to learn how to minimize them.
Up Front:
News, trends, and analysis of interest to you and your organization
InFocus: A Message from the Editor
Vicki Wiler
Collaboration Ensures RIM Career Success and Growth
Wherever you are along the records and information management career ladder, good collaboration skills are among the most critical to you being effective in your current role and to climbing to a higher rung.
September/October 2015
http://imm.arma.org/publication/?i=273263&p=22
Features
Embrace the Cloud, Big Data to Take Control of the Digital Deluge
Cheryl McKinnon, IGP
The Forrester/ARMA 2015 Q2 RIM Survey reveals that uncontrolled digital information is the new top challenge for information professionals – and Forrester Research says the gap between digital governance and chaos is at risk of widening. To prevent that and to spur the evolution from records and information management (RIM) to information governance, RIM professionals must extend their purview to the collaborative, social, and mobile world of today’s digital business.
More Than Paper: How RIM Can Influence IT and Shape IG
Phyllis Elin
Records and information management (RIM) professionals are perfectly positioned and have the requisite expertise to play an advisory role that will help ensure that their organizations are governing all information in all formats in ways that will reduce costs and risks. To step into that role, though, they must forge a collaborative relationship with IT. This article describes how RIM professionals can do that by demonstrating that they understand IT’s perspective and can help them meet their unique challenges and goals.
Five Essential Project Management Skills for RM and IG Professionals
Anna Lebedeva, IGP, PMP
The Forrester Research/ARMA International RM Survey conducted during the second quarter of 2015 show the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification is considered one of the most valuable credentials for records and information professionals to earn. Whether pursuing the PMP or not, this article identifies and tells you how you can develop and use several project management skills that will help you be more successful in your career.
Spotlights
Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles® Series
Making the Business Case for the Principles
Julie Gable, CRM, CDIA, FAI
Most records and information management professionals are adept at describing the difficulties caused by unmanaged and ungoverned information, as well as the actions that need to be taken to resolve the difficulties and how implementing an information governance (IG) program will benefit the organization. The piece of the business case that may be difficult for them is justifying the resource investment and quantifying the ROI. This article shows how to use the Principles and the Information Governance Maturity Model to demonstrate the ROI for an IG program.
TechTrends
Best Practices for Governing Social Media Content
John T. Phillips, CRM, CDIA, FAI
This article provides technical information about social media platforms and suggestions for governing their use that should be of value to organizations that are struggling to extend IG controls over their social media-based information assets.
In Review
‘The Devil Is in the Detail’: Simplify Processing to Reduce Backlog, Provide Access to More Information
Sara Janes
Daniel A. Santamaria’s Extensible Processing for Archives and Special Collections is a highly practical and method-oriented guide to making archival processing more efficient and effective. This book establishes how archivists could and should change their processing practices to get more done at lower cost.
Up Front:
InFocus: A Message from the Editor
Vicki Wiler
Focus on Professional Development to Ensure RIM and IG Success
Increasing your IT knowledge and your ability to collaborate with IT professionals are critical to career advancement.
November/December 2015
http://imm.arma.org/publication/frame.php?i=278145&p=24&pn=&ver=flex
Features
Policies and Processes for Protecting Information
Beth Chiaiese, CRM
Though written primarily for a law firm audience, this article provides all organizations with practice advice about protecting personal, confidential, and trade secret information. It is an excerpt from the book Confidentiality, Privacy, and Information Security: A Primer for Law Firm Records and Information Governance Professionals, written by Beth Chiaiese, CRM, with Lee R. Nemchek, IGP, CRM, editor for the information Governance in the Legal Environment Series.
Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles® Series
The Principles, IG Maturity Model: Tools for Professional Growth
Julie Gable, CRM, CDIA, FAI
In a field of endeavor where change is incessant and uncertainty is constant, the Principles and the IGMM are signposts that point out current position, future direction, and the means for getting the RIM program – and the professional – from one place to the next.
How to Combine RIM Programs After a Merger
Blake Richardson, CRM, CIP
From the moment two companies publicly announce a merger, their operational wheels begin turning. This article identifies issues that may not be discussed before the merger is completed and provided advice about the issues that must be discussed post-merger.
Spotlights
TechTrends
Protecting Privacy in an IoT-Connected World
Michael S. Smith Ph.D., IGP, CRM
The Internet of Things (IoT) is being leveraged by organizations across the industry spectrum for a variety of purposes, but they may not understand the threats it brings to their business or how to protect themselves.
LegalMatters
Implications of E-Mail Mismanagement and Best Practices for Preventing It
John J. Isaza, Esq.
In this article, attorney John Isaza answers several questions about e-mail best practices and the legal repercussions of poor e-mail management in the United States.
In Review
Learn to Create and Work with Relational Databases
Erik Werfel, J.D., IGP, CIPP-US, CISSP, CEDS
Database Systems Design, Implementation and Management could serve as a good introduction to relational database management systems for the records and information management professional who has a high-level familiarity with them but needs to gain additional practical knowledge.
In Review
Discovering the Universe of Preservation History and Practice
Stephen E. Haller, CRM
Preserving our Heritage covers such a large universe of preservation history practice, context, and recommendations that many readers will be able to find content relevant to their own situation or discipline.
Up Front:
InFocus: A Message from the Editor
Vicki Wiler
Focus on Taming Technology to Maximize Information Security
Technologies can increase the value of information, but they also increase the difficulty of protecting it. Records and information management professionals must take a leading role in ensuring that their organizations’ information assets are secure.
