Preservation of Recorded Information in Public and Private Sector Organizations

Abstract

The long-term preservation and accessibility of business records is often not accorded the attention that it deserves. Yet, records are a major organizational resource needed to support the current business of the organization as well as retaining the verifiable evidence of an organization's past programmes and activities. Records also serve as tools of accountability, transparency and good governance and provide reliable evidence in organizations' transactions and activities. The long-term preservation of records ensures that the organization is protected against costly litigation and that its interests and those of its employees are protected. This chapter lays emphasis on the need to preserve organizational records, the challenges facing preservation activities in the public and private sector organizations, the challenges of managing and preserving electronic records and proposes strategies for addressing these challenges.