{"title":"The mindset of recordkeeping: the intersection of records management and organizational psychology","authors":"Hannah N. Pryor","doi":"10.1108/rmj-01-2023-0004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/rmj-01-2023-0004","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose This study aims to synthesize records and information management (RIM) with the professional literature of industrial/organizational (I/O) psychology to explain undesirable recordkeeping behaviors that may manifest in employees who interact with business records. Design/methodology/approach The author’s views are based on a literature review of both records management and organizational psychology trends and draw on case studies that identify undesirable recordkeeping behavior. Findings There is considerable overlap between the problems encountered by RIM professionals and the answers offered by I/O psychology. I/O psychology offers us the tools to better understand recordkeeping behaviors. Originality/value The author proposes using I/O psychology concepts to better situate RIM programs within the larger organizational context.","PeriodicalId":20923,"journal":{"name":"Records Management Journal","volume":"20 6","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135365991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Records in social media: a new (old) understanding of records management","authors":"Babatunde Kazeem Oladejo, Darra Hofman","doi":"10.1108/rmj-03-2023-0019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/rmj-03-2023-0019","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose Social media posts have been an integral part of our society’s communication and serve purposes from the personal to the national, from the mundane to the silly to the momentous. This study aims to examine social media posts as records, discussing how social media technology serves, perhaps unexpectedly, to reinforce traditional archival understandings of issues such as provenance, custody, access, disposition and preservation. Design/methodology/approach This study follows a four-step methodology. First, this study analyzes literature for a matching definition of the social media record. In the second step, we appraise three social media postings previously curated and cited in news articles by journalists to determine their characteristics – Are these social media posts “records?” Third, this study evaluates the sample records against two dominant theoretical record models, the life cycle and the continuum and attempt to apply the model specifications to the data samples. Finally, this study proposes appropriate records management solutions to address governance issues from the study findings in the conclusion section. Findings This study shows that, even by the most traditional of definitions, social media posts are records. The paper also demonstrates that platform mediation transforms simple narrative documents into records whose provenance, custody and control are dictated by platform logics and governance, outside of the control of their creators. Through appraisal of a small sample of “important” social media posts, this study illustrates that, rather than obsolete, traditional records management concepts and approaches are necessary to ensuring the ongoing accessibility, usability and evidentiary character of social media posts in the broader “platformized” context. Research limitations/implications This is exploratory, theoretical work. In future works, this study plans to expand and validate aspects of this study. Originality/value This paper tests existing theoretical frameworks, namely, the Records Life cycle and the Records Continuum for applicability to the social media record. The paper also offers a view of the potential for traditional archival and records management concepts in service of a just and inclusive recordkeeping, because such concepts allow us to demonstrate the centralized, elite-serving, bureaucratic structures which underpin social media records are obscured by the seemingly decentralized, participatory nature of social media.","PeriodicalId":20923,"journal":{"name":"Records Management Journal","volume":"9 4","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-10-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135366124","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Examining the ethical dilemmas of political impartiality in records administration: a phronetic approach","authors":"Adebowale Jeremy Adetayo","doi":"10.1108/rmj-02-2023-0008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/rmj-02-2023-0008","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This paper aims to explore the ethical dilemmas faced by records administrators concerning political impartiality by examining the case of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in the USA, which has faced reputational challenges due to perceived political bias.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000This paper proposes a phronetic approach to resolve the ethical dilemmas associated with political impartiality in records administration. This approach emphasizes practical wisdom and ethical decision-making, offering a unique and effective way to address the challenges faced by presidential record archivists.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The proposed phronetic approach provides a means to resolve the ethical challenges posed by political impartiality in records administration, with a particular focus on NARA. By taking a transparent and impartial approach, agencies can minimize criticism and ensure their continued ability to equitably serve the public.\u0000\u0000\u0000Practical implications\u0000The phronetic approach offers a framework for addressing ethical dilemmas related to political impartiality in records administration, with potential implications for other independent agencies facing similar challenges.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This paper offers a unique perspective on the ethical dilemmas of political impartiality in records administration and proposes a practical and effective approach to resolving these challenges. It contributes to the broader discussion on the intersection of ethics and public administration.\u0000","PeriodicalId":20923,"journal":{"name":"Records Management Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"45867885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A hermeneutic review of records management practices in Malawi: a developing country context","authors":"Kaitano Simwaka, D. Malanga","doi":"10.1108/rmj-02-2023-0010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/rmj-02-2023-0010","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This study aims to review and understand the state of records management practices in Malawi, focusing on both public and private sector organisations.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000The hermeneutic framework underpinned a qualitative review of the study phenomenon. The inclusion and exclusion criterion for the literature was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis methodology. Fifteen documents met the eligibility criteria and informed the study findings. The literature comprised of journal articles, dissertations at both master and doctoral levels, and conference papers.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The study found that records are created, captured and maintained both in print and electronic formats. It also confirmed that different types of organisations (public, private, academia and civil society) recognise the need for proper records management practices. However, effective and efficient records management is besieged by numerous obstacles, including lack of funding, absence of records management policy, standards and procedures at both institutional and national levels, poor records classification systems and a lack of top management support. Most importantly, the review shows that the majority of studies in Malawi have focused on academia, with little attention to other equally fundamental areas such as agriculture, trade, tourism, transport and energy. Thus, this situation calls for more empirical studies of records management practices in those sectors.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first kind of review to be done at a national level, so the findings provide significant insights for policymakers and research practitioners on records management research trends to date in Malawi.\u0000","PeriodicalId":20923,"journal":{"name":"Records Management Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47984970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Let the people know, and the country will be safe: FOI models in South Africa and Zimbabwe","authors":"Makutla Mojapelo","doi":"10.1108/rmj-01-2023-0003","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/rmj-01-2023-0003","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000Democratic countries all over the world are embarking on initiatives to empower citizens through public participation. One of the tools used by countries to promote public participation is the enactment and implementation of freedom of information (FOI) legislation, as it is the case with South Africa and Zimbabwe. Despite having legislation reaffirming the need for people’s right to know, practices in South Africa and Zimbabwe indicate the opposite. The purpose of this study is to explore FOI models in South Africa and Zimbabwe, with a view to recommend ways in which people’s right to know can be promoted.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000This qualitative study used interviews to collect the data from 12 FOI experts in South Africa and Zimbabwe, who were selected through the snowball sampling technique. Data collected through interviews were supplemented by the data collected through document analysis.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The study concluded that the key role players need to make efforts to ensure that the right to know, which is associated with FOI, is being realised in both countries. FOI legislation, in both countries, is imprecise and needs to be revised to ensure effective implementation.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000The study demonstrates that FOI is a necessary tool for people to be involved in decision-making in government. People’s rights to know can be achieved by successfully implementing FOI legislation.\u0000","PeriodicalId":20923,"journal":{"name":"Records Management Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-07-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43027727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The effect of digitalization on the daily use of and work with records in the Norwegian public sector","authors":"Daniel Henriksen Hagen","doi":"10.1108/rmj-10-2022-0030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/rmj-10-2022-0030","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This paper presents an exploratory case study on the impact of user-oriented digitalization on records management in the Norwegian public sector. The purpose of this study is to identify some of the opportunities and issues that may arise for records management professionals, case workers and citizens.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000The concept of administrative burdens and how user-oriented design can reduce or increase them is the main theoretical focus. A series of five interviews with records management professionals from five municipalities and three with IT staff members from two larger state institutions served as the primary source for this qualitative case study in conjunction with a literature review. The interviews were conducted in a semistructured format with a general interview guide.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Smaller municipalities lack the resources of larger state institutions, and they do not involve users in the same extent, even though their records management professionals strive for user-orientation. The work with directly involving users appears to vary in larger institutions, where resources must still be properly prioritized. Reducing administrative burdens is vital for user-oriented design, but digitizing services often increases them, so service delivery must consider the benefits of local, in-person guidance in relation to wholly digital services.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000While much research has been conducted in Norway on digitalization, little has been done to examine the implications for records management work or the public’s use of records. By identifying some key concerns, this paper hopes to serve as a springboard for further research in these areas.\u0000","PeriodicalId":20923,"journal":{"name":"Records Management Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-07-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47377921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Haraldsdóttir, F. Foscarini, C. Jeurgens, Pekka Henttonen, G. Oliver, Seren Wendelken, Viviane Frings‐Hessami
{"title":"Working from home: the experience of records management professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic","authors":"R. Haraldsdóttir, F. Foscarini, C. Jeurgens, Pekka Henttonen, G. Oliver, Seren Wendelken, Viviane Frings‐Hessami","doi":"10.1108/rmj-04-2023-0025","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/rmj-04-2023-0025","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this paper was to investigate how recordkeepers in Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Iceland and Italy experienced accomplishing their tasks from home over varying lengths of time during the COVID-19 pandemic.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000A multilingual survey including 44 questions was designed and administered to the six countries identified above in 2022. This research was preceded by an environmental scan looking at existing studies considering archival and records management responses to the pandemic.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The impact of working from home on recordkeeping and, more generally, work performance was perceived differently by the survey respondents depending on various factors. The study also identified a number of similarities across countries, such as an increased awareness of the importance of records management shared by organizational actors. Surprisingly, the pandemic did not appear to have a great impact on the perceived quality of records management.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study aiming to capture records professionals’ perceptions of their role while working from home during the pandemic.\u0000","PeriodicalId":20923,"journal":{"name":"Records Management Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48770771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Digitization of Indigenous knowledge systems in Africa: the case of South Africa’s National Recorded System (NRS)","authors":"T. Balogun","doi":"10.1108/rmj-10-2022-0029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/rmj-10-2022-0029","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose\u0000The purpose of this study is to highlight the indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) preservation efforts in South Africa, with a focus on the National Recordal System and the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Documentation Centres (IKSDCs) across South Africa.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000Anchored in the interpretivist paradigm, the qualitative research approach was adopted to explore the objectives of the study. The multiple case study method was considered appropriate and adopted for the study. The data for this study was collected through comprehensive face-to-face interviews and Web content analysis. The population of the study consisted of the staff at the IKSDCs in the selected academic institutions. The purposive sampling technique was used to select the following set of participants in each academic institution: IKS managers/coordinators, digitization officers and online collection administrators.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The findings provide an in-depth understanding of the IKS landscape in South Africa. The findings and recommendations of this paper would be useful to researchers who wish to know more about digitization efforts in South Africa. It would also be useful to all stakeholders and policymakers.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000The paper brings to the fore the efforts of the South African government in preserving IKS through documentation and digitization. The paper highlights the sources of indigenous knowledge, types of indigenous knowledge captured, how the indigenous knowledge is ingested in the repositories and how the data is captured. Generally, the roles of the IKSDCs in the capture and preservation of IKS are highlighted.","PeriodicalId":20923,"journal":{"name":"Records Management Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43132574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pandemic recordkeeping – the New Zealand experience","authors":"Seren Wendelken","doi":"10.1108/rmj-10-2022-0027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/rmj-10-2022-0027","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this paper is to review the recordkeeping response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. It identifies how archival authorities supported potential changes in recordkeeping practice as a result of constraints brought about by the pandemic, in particular the shift to work-from-home as the dominant paradigm.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000Analysis of guidance, standards and initiatives published online by New Zealand archival authorities in the early stages of the pandemic was undertaken and contextualised with international counterparts.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Findings indicate that guidance provided to support changes in recordkeeping practice brought about by the pandemic was high-level, outlining potential considerations and possible pitfalls but did not provide applied advice on how to approach the shift to a work-from-home reality.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000Research into the effects of the pandemic on recordkeeping practice and output is in its infancy; this paper contributes a brief insight into the New Zealand experience.\u0000","PeriodicalId":20923,"journal":{"name":"Records Management Journal","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41702770","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. P. Andoh, Rebecca Dei Mensah, S. Tetteh, G. Boampong, Kofi Adom-Nyankey, Bernice Asare
{"title":"Influence of employees’ perceptions of the uses and security of human resource records on employees’ attitude toward human resource records","authors":"R. P. Andoh, Rebecca Dei Mensah, S. Tetteh, G. Boampong, Kofi Adom-Nyankey, Bernice Asare","doi":"10.1108/rmj-12-2021-0043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/rmj-12-2021-0043","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000Human resource records are the cornerstone of human resource management. Organizations rely a great deal on their employees to furnish them with human resource records, which is crucial to the effective management of the employees and the success of the organization. It is evident, however, that personal information-related issues in organizations are of significant concern and that examining employees’ perceptions and attitudes regarding personal information management is extremely valuable. Yet, this is largely absent in the literature. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the influence of perceptions of employees concerning the uses and security of human resource records on their attitude toward human resource records in Ghana.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000A descriptive survey design was used in this study. An online questionnaire was used to gather responses from employees for analyses. A structural equation model was developed and assessed because of the advantages that come with its use and the characteristics of this study. The assessment of the structural equation model was done to determine the significance of the hypothesized paths. In addition, effect size, coefficient of determination and predictive relevance of the structural model were assessed. Before that, the validity and reliability of the measurement model were examined through the assessment of the indicator loadings, average variance extracted, Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability. An importance-performance map analysis (IPMA) was also conducted.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The hypotheses formulated in this study could not be rejected because the hypotheses tested were statistically significant. Thus, this study revealed that employees’ perception of the uses of human resource records influenced their attitude toward human resource records. Also, employees’ perception of the security of human resource records influenced their attitude toward human resource records. The IPMA revealed that the perception of uses of human resource records was more important, yet its performance was below the perception of security as significant.\u0000\u0000\u0000Practical implications\u0000Human resource records management professionals, particularly in Ghana, ought to ensure that the human resource records in their organizations are used for the purpose for which they are collected and also, secured. In addition, they should assure employees that their personal information is used as expected and secured. This could be realized with the use of international records management standards especially those in the ISO 30300 series. More so, human resource managers as part of their counseling duties also need to counsel employees so that they form positive perceptions about the uses and security of the personal information they give to their organization in the course of their employment.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study brings to light the attitude of employees toward human re","PeriodicalId":20923,"journal":{"name":"Records Management Journal","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.4,"publicationDate":"2023-03-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43585621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}