Records & Information Management Basics

Information is one of your organization’s most important assets. It’s also a high risk area. Managing it effectively and thereby minimizing the risk to the organization requires enterprise-wide adherence to sound records and information management (RIM) policies and practices.

To run a successful RIM program in your organization, you need a strong base. Understanding the fundamentals will help you build that base. ARMA International offers a series of articles that explain the most basic facts of RIM. Our “RIM 101” section gives the beginner a great place to start and the seasoned professional a helpful refresher course. The articles cover a broad range of topics such as electronic discovery, risk management, electronic records management, and more. Also included in the articles are handy reference sections that will direct you to additional resources such as books, training videos, and other related articles.

If you were hired to perform a job with little training and a lack of direction, how well would you perform? That is the case for many records management professionals who often are expected to transition smoothly into their new organization without the experience and training of general business management skills also related to the position. RIM professionals must also fully understand the strategic vision and mission of the organizations in order to succeed. This article will familiarize you with general management terms and give you resources to help you learn what all RIM professionals should know.

Will your organization survive through a major disaster? Better yet, will your organization be able to recover and return to business as usual? A disaster can strike at any moment without warning and a disaster recovery plan can save you lost finances and a lot of heartache.

Will you be able to produce the necessary documents efficiently if a legal battle should arise?  Electronic discovery is the required production of information to an opposing party during government investigation. In order to be prepared, every organization must be familiar with the new Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

More than 90 percent of information in business today is created electronically. Electronic records management is the application of records management principles to electronic records. Learn what electronic records are, how to manage them, and why they are so important to organizations. Also, learn about the possible risks of not properly managing your electronic records.

This article is a great starting point for those new to the records information management profession. You will get an overview of what records are, how to manage them, and a list of general terms ever RIM professional should know.

One of the most important jobs for a records information management professional is to create a records retention policy for your organization. You must understand the difference between an inactive and an active record. An efficient and effective retention policy will ensure that organization is ready for disasters, legal battles and many other challenging situations.

Successfully managing your risk is crucial to any organization. Records information management professionals must enforce a risk management program to ensure that an organization does not assume an unacceptable level of risk. Read this article to learn  techniques to mitigate your risk, how to be compliant with records information management standards, and where to go for additional resources.