LAR5530

Managing the records continuum

S McKemmish

8 points
* 2 hours per week
* Second semester
* Clayton and distance

Objectives At the completion of this subject students will be able to analyse organisational and individual needs in relation to their obligation to maintain records; demonstrate an understanding of the legislative environment in which particular recordkeeping activities take place, with particular emphasis on evidence acts, privacy and disclosure legislation and industry best practice; analyse particular functions, activities and transactions in order to define and articulate recordkeeping requirements; analyse metadata required for the management of records over time and space; and articulate various technical and policy options for the management of records.

Synopsis The course covers the socio-legal and technical environments of recordkeeping, the technical environments and the specific roles of recordkeeping at the document creation, record systems, organisational and social dimensions. It explores the adaptation of traditional theoretic principles such as diplomatics and applies them to document management techniques; business acceptable communications in the form of authentic and reliable evidence of transactions; requirements to maintain evidence of transactions over time and space in the form of corporate memory in order to meet individual and organisational accountability requirements; and wider social and cultural demands on recordkeeping to maintain a continuing collective memory over time and space. Specific techniques, innovative practice and research findings are taught in an environment aiming at defining best practices for the profession.

Assessment Project report: 60%
* Practical assignment: 40%

Prescribed texts

McKemmish S and Piggott M (eds) The records continuum Ancora Press, 1994
McKemmish S and others The science of recordkeeping: Managing the records continuum 1997