IM March - April 2010

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• Managing Social Data: Is SharePoint the Answer?

  Records management (RM) professionals have been challenged to manage electronic data for some time. Their efforts have tended to focus on unstructured data, such as documents, scanned images, and spreadsheets. Recently, structured data held in databases has also come under close scrutiny, especially during discovery. Read on for more ... or download the PDF version

• Groundbreaking Trends: The Foundation for Meeting Information Challenges and Opportunities

  As the recession recedes, the future looks brighter and definitely more digital. Organizations will be altered substantially by information-centric collaboration, new web applications, proliferation of mobile devices, and younger, information savvy workers using social networking in unprecedented ways. Read on for more ... or download the PDF version

• Ready, Set, Whoa! Plan Before Implementing RM Technologies

  Congratulations! Your organization has made the commitment to move forward with an electronic records and information management (RIM) system. Through careful planning and research, you’ve found and selected the “right” solution and are ready to deploy. Now what? Read on for more ... or download the PDF version

• Business Matters: Stepping Up to the Plate: Developing an Effective Business Communication Strategy

  Virtually everyone reading this article is in sales, regardless of title or responsibility. How? Because selling, essentially, is communicating persuasively to get others to take some action, which is what all business professionals are engaged in most of the time. Gaining support for a records and information management (RIM) program (or any project, for that matter) requires more than sales skill, though. Read on for more ... or download the PDF version

• Up Front

  The latest news, trends, and analysis affecting you and your organization. Read on for more ... or download the PDF version (12 pages total)

IM January - February 2010

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• How Do Your Organization's Risks Stack Up? Lessons Learned from the Financial Meltdown

  In the wake of the economic meltdown, all industries are paying closer attention to how they can minimize risks. Records managers have an important role to play in developing a strategy to protect their organizations' information assets. Read on for more ... or download the PDF version

• Leveraging Generational Work Styles to Meet Business Objectives

  Since the 1960s, when the term “generation gap” was first coined to describe the differences between the WWII population (the Silent Generation) and its offspring (Baby Boomers), generations have been learning how to co-exist. Pop culture is rife with attitudes and preferences based on generational differences – consider the Queen of Soul vs. the King of Pop. In the workplace, however, the differences can be muted, with changes developing below the radar. Read on for more ... or download the PDF version

• Management Wise: Killer Surf Issues - Crafting an Organizational Model to Combat Employee Internet Abuse

  Over the years, employees have been provided with uninhibited access to the Internet leading to a drain on time and budgets within organizations. With nearly 64% of employees claiming to use the Internet for personal interest during working hours, according to Snapshotspy.com, developing a policy is in your organization’s best interest. Read on for more ... or download the PDF version

• Business Matters: Ten Steps for Evaluating and Selecting Software and Service Providers

  Investing resources in preparation for purchasing software and services is the best way to ensure that your organization gets the best service and a quality product. Read on for more ... or download the PDF version

• In Review: The Ethics of Records Management - Adopting Ethics, Accountability, and Recordkeeping Principles

  Ethics, Accountability, and Recordkeeping in a Dangerous World by Richard Cox is a collection of essays on the ethical challenges facing records managers and archivists in the 21st century. It is intended primarily for records professionals, though it should be of interest to a wider audience. Read on for more ... or download the PDF version

• Up Front

  The latest news, trends, and analysis affecting you and your organization. Read on for more ... or download the PDF version (12 pages total)

IM November - December 2009

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• Rise of the Machines: The Role of Text Analytics in Record Classification and Disposition

  The disparate nature of unmanaged data repositories hinders an organization’s ability to purge unneeded data because the size and nature of the repositories make it cost-prohibitive to evaluate the data for disposition. However, if shared file data repositories continue to be left unmanaged, organizations will have vast wastelands of unstructured electronic information. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Equipping Your Organization for the Social Networking Game

  Social networking sites are currently utilized by enterprises of all sizes, regardless of for-profit or not-for-profit status. Their acceptance is changing the way individuals and organizations relate within a business context. Records and information management (RIM) professionals cannot afford to ignore the impact of social networking upon their organizations’ day-to-day activities. As information technology evolves, so too must the RIM professional’s skill-sets. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Unified vs. Federated: Which Has the Proven Track Record for Managing Information?

  Tremendous financial and human resources are being spent to automate the complex task of information management and information disposition in the digital environment. Because of the proliferation of applications, computer platforms, operating systems, and many other variables, information is being created, retained, and disposed of in an uncontrolled and undisciplined way. Everyone who creates and processes information using computers can relate to this problem. And many understand the difficulty of following record retention schedules in this digital world. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Tech Trends: 5 Steps to Compliance: Building an Automated Data Map

  In a litigious business world awash in electronically stored information (ESI), the need to access and analyze data in a usable format is clear. Unfortunately, many organizations’ choices have been limited to reactive, fire-drill style processes. Ad hoc responses to e-discovery often lead to impartial or inaccurate production, an inability to prove inaccessibility, inadvertent noncompliance, and skyrocketing risks and costs. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• In Review: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations

  Information management is evolving from controlled centralized systems with restricted access to decentralized systems with seemingly free access. This transition has been evident over the past decade, with traditional enterprise content management products adding modules that include more open forms of collaboration, such as wikis and blogs. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

IM September - October 2009

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• Re-Tooling for E-Discovery: Technologies, Training, and Processes

  By following five government practices for managing vendors, training employees, and using technology, organizations can better manage their e-discovery process. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Examining Metadata: Its Role in E-Discovery and the Future of Records Managers

  Recent developments in law, standards, and technology suggest that metadata will play an important part in the evolution of electronic records management. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• To Map or Not to Map: Strategies for Classifying Sources of ESI

  While data maps are primarily an electronic discovery tool used to help organizations mitigate their legal risks and costs, they can also help them better meet business objectives. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Legal Watch — Shedding Light on Backup Tape E-Discovery

  New strategies for backing up data and the 2006 amendments to the U.S. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure have led to costly e-discovery nightmares for organizations. A few simple steps can help organizations avoid these horrific situations. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Lessons Learned — Where Is Your Data Located?

  This hypothetical case study involving theft of trade secrets discusses data identification and collection issues to be considered and questions to be answered to ensure an effective e-discovery response. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Analyst Corner — Forrester/ARMA Survey: Mitigating Legal Risks Drives Software Deployment Plans

  Records professionals have a strategic role to play in implementing systems and processes for meeting regulatory requirements, protecting information assets, and easing e-discovery burdens. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

IM July - August 2009

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• Focusing on the Big Picture: RIM's Leading Role in Protecting Organizations During Downsizing

  The voice on the phone is direct. A confidential report is due in two weeks. The current downturn in the economy is landing squarely on the records and information management (RIM) professional’s desk. The organization is downsizing and a plan must be prepared. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Clouds on the Information Horizon: How to Avoid the Storm

  Cloud-based solutions, such as web-based e-mail, have many advantages. But as author Brent Gatewood points out, organizations must be aware of the compliance issues related to storing their information outside of their own control. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Surviving a Records Audit: 6 Steps to Prepare Your Organization

  Although most records are created electronically, physical records continue to proliferate and demand that organizations seek software solutions that meet the requirements for effectively managing records in both media. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Business Matters: America's Recovery and the Business of RIM

  The economic downturn and the resulting stimulus legislation offer RIM professionals new opportunities to highlight the value they and their programs can bring to their organizations. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Career Path: Doing More with Less: How Networking and Training Create Records Program Success

  A study of government records managers shows networking affords opportunities to provide training, increase RIM awareness, and overcome resource shortfalls. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

IM May - June 2009

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• Apples & Oranges: Recordkeeping Principles for Transforming Business Practices

  Despite having voluminous, detailed transaction records, regulators did not have a clear picture of the financial industry’s health before its recent collapse and the economy’s subsequent downward spiral. President Barack Obama and key cabinet members have stressed transparency and accountability, two key elements of the Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles (SM), for preventing similar crises from occurring. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• The Building Blocks of a Global Records Management Program

  What does it take to build a global, enterprisewide RM program? It starts with equal parts planning, management support, and foresight. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Selecting Software for Managing Physical & Electronic Records

  Although most records are created electronically, physical records continue to proliferate and demand that organizations seek software solutions that meet the requirements for effectively managing records in both media. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Analyst Corner: Guiding Your Organization Through Murky Waters

  In today's economic atmosphere, compliance and e-discovery concerns have prompted enterprises to seek guidance on records and retention management ranging from how to define effective records management policies to best practices for enforcing e-mail retention. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Business Matters: Getting From Point A to Point B: What it Means to Take a Federated Approach

  Among themany products available to help organizations simplify the challenge of managing their information, a sub-set of these will promise to take a federated approach to get the job done. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

IM March - April 2009

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• Facing the Economic Storm: Navigating RIM Programs Through Hard Times

  Business unit managers can help steer their programs through the current economic storm by providing leadership, capitalizing on new opportunities, and planning for the future. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Case Study: How to Successfully Implement an E-Records Management Program

  Recognizing the need for collaboration, the records management and information technology departments of the company highlighted in this case study partnered to implement a successful enterprise-wide electronic records management program. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

IM January - February 2009

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• A Walk in the Cloud

  Internet- or “cloud”-based tools, are making their way – sanctioned or not – into more and more workplaces. Two records management experts suggest how organizations can leverage their benefits while mitigating their risks. Read on for more from Patrick Cunningham and Jesse Wilkins ... or download the PDF version

• Selecting the Right Tools for Records Management

  SharePoint is popular as a collaboration tool, but is it robust enough for managing records enterprise-wide? Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Archives: Making the Most of Your Historical Assets

  Re-evaluating archival records and their place in history can open the door to new awareness, promotion, and publicity for any organization. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Privacy: Will Red Flags Detour ID Theft?

  The new “red flag” rules under the U.S. Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA) going into effect May 1, 2009, require U.S. banks and creditors to implement a program to identify, mitigate, and prevent potential consumer identity theft. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• Career Path: Writing for Professional Development and for the Profession

  The RIM field needs its professionals to write and contribute to the field’s knowledge, but many do not do so because they are not aware of many basic, helpful tools available to them. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

• In Review: Rethinking Records Management for the Web 2.0 World

  As 2.0 increasingly makes its presence known, many should be turning – and returning – to this admittedly pricey book for guidance and as a point of departure in grappling with its challenges. Read on for more ...  or download the PDF version

IMJ November - December 2008

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• The Ingredients of a Good Leader

  From analyzing the tasks at hand to balancing individual and team efforts, a leader must always be a motivator. Read on for more ...

• Driving Better Business Performance with Document Management Processes

  A recent survey suggests how organizations can align their document management processes with their business goals. Read on for more ...

• How to Create a Security Culture in Your Organization

  A recent study reveals the importance of assessment, incident response procedures, and social engineering testing in improving security awareness programs. Read on for more ...

• Setting Standards: American National Standards and the RIM Industry: A Primer

  Standards are important to the records and information management (RIM) industry, and American National Standards should play an increasingly prominent role in the industry’s ongoing quest for quality. Read on for more ...

• On the Edge: Records & Information Management in the Post-Bailout World

  The backlash from the U.S. financial market crisis is sure to include a rush to legislation, regulation, and litigation that will present a host of new compliance and discovery challenges that organizations should begin preparing for today. Read on for more ...

• Management Wise: CMS, RMS? Spelling Out the Right Information Management Solution

  Organizations sifting through an alphabet soup of information management solutions must understand their specific needs and the strengths and weaknesses of each type of solution to choose the one – or combination of solutions – that will best meet their needs. Read on for more ...

IMJ September - October 2008

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• Techniques for Making Molehills Out of Unstructured Data Mountains

  Visual analytics, a new technology that graphically illustrates datasets, helps users quickly identify responsive documents for electronic discovery review. Read on for more ...

• Skills for Building Success in the Electronic Business Environment

  Today’s electronic business environment demands that records and information professionals expand their skills but also provides the opportunity for them to have more influence on an organization’s success. Read on for more ...

• RIM on the Hot Seat: What to Expect When Testifying

  Litigation can be stressful, intrusive, and exhaustive – so it’s best to keep deposition and trial testimony simple, short, and honest. Read on for more ...

• On the Edge: Bosses Can't Read Employees' Messages, Court Says

  In a victory for workplace privacy, an appeals court ruling has made it more difficult for employers to snoop in employees’ electronic messages. Read on for more ...

• Management Wise: Building a Better Model for Technical Problem Solving

  When an organization develops a practical approach to problem solving, it teaches employees how to overcome barriers and instills in them a desire to accept ownership of problems. Read on for more ...

• Lessons Learned: Mapping an Approach for Successful Content Management

  Combining a records management and electronic document management program to create an enterprise content management program produced notable results for the County of San Diego and provided a road map for others to do the same. Read on for more ...

• In Review: The Secrets to Successful Archives and Records Management

  Leading and Managing Archives and Records Programs is a welcome addition to the archivist’s and records manager’s bookshelf series. Read on for more ...

IMJ July - August 2008

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• The Art of Managing RIM Programs

  The successful RIM program manager must have a well-developed set of inter-personal and professional talents, including the ability to perform 10 critical tasks for successful program management identified here. Read on for more ...

• How to Win the Compliance Battle Using 'Big Buckets'

  Despite verbal skirmishing about how big retention schedule "buckets" should be, RIM professionals agree that reducing the number of records series buckets can help organizations win the battle to increase user accuracy and compliance and reduce costs and risks. Read on for more ...

• Calming the Data Storm: A Risk Management Model for Mitigating Risks

  Using a risk-based approach for prioritizing efforts to mitigate the greatest information risks is a smart way to alleviate the common problems of limited staff, time, and budget. Read on for more ...

• On the Edge: Revising DoD 5015.2, the de facto RM Software Standard

  The latest revision of DoD 5015.2-STD now includes requirements for records management application (RMA)-to-RMA interoperability. Read on for more ...

• Setting Standards: MoReq2: The New Model for Developing, Procuring Electronic Records Management Systems

  The 2008 version of Model Requirements for the Management of Electronic Records (MoReq2) features new testability, governance, structural innovation, and expanded content. Read on for more ...

• Career Path: Six Steps to Your Successful Career Path

  From self-assessment to decision making to life planning, these steps will help guide the RIM professional to success. Read on for more ...

IMJ May - June 2008

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• Eight Steps for Keeping Information Management and E-Discovery on Target

  Homing in on information management and the records responsive to e-discovery serves the dual purpose of promoting business efficiency and legal compliance. Read on for more ...

• Building a Framework to Measure and Minimize Information Risks

  A recent study presents a new framework for records managers to assess risks in two dimensions – risk probability and risk impact – and offers guidance for risk treatment measures. Read on for more ...

• Going Global: Mapping an International Records Retention Strategy

  To protect against future litigation, international organizations must formulate a records retention policy that carefully weighs many considerations, including the laws, regulations, and statutes of limitations - and whether litigation is probable. Read on for more ...

• On the Edge: A New ERA for NARA

  Despite delays, the National Archives and Records Administration’s Electronic Records Archives system is poised to change the future of U.S. government recordkeeping. Read on for more ...

• Legal Watch: Strategies for Preparing for E-Discovery

  The amendments to the U.S. Federal Rules of Civil Procedure regarding the discovery of electronically stored information make it imperative for organizations to develop an enterprise-wide strategy to manage its volume. Read on for more ...

• Business Matters: Exploring the Information Management Side of RIM

  With their preoccupation with risk management, records and information management professionals are missing the opportunity to collaborate with other role players to leverage information for greater organizational efficiency and productivity. Read on for more ...

IMJ March - April 2008

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• Determining the Scope of Legal Holds: Waypoints for Navigating the Road Ahead

  When preparing for anticipated litigation, a company’s primary obligation is to determine a scope of what to hold – and so decide what documents and information it must preserve. Read on for more ...

• The Pillars of Vital Records Protection

  Being prepared to resume business quickly in the event of disaster requires that digital, as well as paper, vital records be identified and protected by staff members that understand the goals of the vital records program and their roles in it. Read on for more ...

• Keys for Securing Private Information in an EDMS

  Implementing an electronic document management system (EDMS) security scheme will limit personnel to the minimum information access needed for legitimate business reasons. Read on for more ...

• On the Edge: Secrecy Still Reigns

  Despite a few recent advances for open records, those who favor open government say there has been a sharp decrease in government transparency. Read on for more ...

• Management Wise: How to Develop an Emergency Management Plan

  While it won’t replace the logic of decision-making or common sense, a good, detailed emergency management plan can greatly enhance an organization’s ability to respond to most emergencies and reduce the potential loss. Read on for more ...

• Business Matters: Where RM Should Report to Ensure Effective Electronic Records Management

  As the volume of electronically stored information continues to grow exponentially, it is crucial for records management to report wherever it will gain the most influence and leverage across the organization. Read on for more ...

• In Review: Are Records Miscellaneous?

  Everything Is Miscellaneous: The Power of the New Digital Disorder is a good example of a particular genre of business book: very forward-looking, with a broad theme from just beyond the horizon and a liberal sprinkling of “marketing speak.” Read on for more ...

IMJ January - February 2008

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• The Importance of Architecture in ERM Software Selection

  The underlying differences in records software have implications for an enterprise’s strategy, implementation, and risk challenges. Read on for more ...

• Braking for Legal Holds: How to Read the Signals

  Seven scenarios offer examples of events that signal the need to stop disposition of records in anticipation of litigation. Read on for more ...

• Wellsprings of Change for RIM

  Six emerging trends affecting information and records management offer challenges and opportunities for RIM professionals. Read on for more ...

• On the Edge: Government Records: It's the Message, Not the Medium

  Governments – well, some anyway – are starting to figure out what records managers have known all along: Information pertaining to business is a record, whether it was created on or delivered to an office computer or a staff member’s personal PDA. Read on for more ...

• Management Wise: Bad Bosses and How Not to Be One

  All workplaces would run smoothly if all bosses learned to live by the Golden Rule of Management: Manage as you would like to be managed. Read on for more ...

• Business Matters: Minimizing Risks Through a Corporate Information Compliance Initiative

  Corporate governance programs for information management are a crucial risk-management investment for organizations. Read on for more ...