Ginny
I think you have well encapsulated the dilemma. The question then
becomes: Why are we concentrating on competencies? Surely these must be
related to the certification process, rather than the education
process...
What research to date has been funded by the ARMA Educational
Foundation?
All the best
Sue
-----Original Message-----
From: Records Management Program [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Jones, Virginia
Sent: Wednesday, 19 October 2005 11:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Competencies for Records and Information Professionals -
Link s
Interesting discussion. A few additional comments.
Are we preaching to the choir? Absolutely. While most are in tune,
some of the choir is not singing, some are out of tune, and some are on
a different page of the hymnal. One of our biggest obstacles in this
profession is ourselves. In the U.S. and recently the U.K., laws and
regulations are starting to drive business and government to pay more
attention to proper records management. Where is upper management
turning for answers and compliance? IT, Accounting and Legal. Why?
Because, in many cases, RIM is waiting to be asked instead of being the
first in the door with possible solutions. In fact, we should be first
in the door to bring awareness of the pending laws and regulations and
offering potential solutions. We need to understand what aspects of IT,
accounting and legal pertain to the RIM solutions for compliance and
incorporate it in our recommendations.
Is the CRM based on "vocation" or "academic" requirements? I think, to
some extent, it is based on both. There is a body of RIM theory and
research available after 50 or 60 years of focus on the profession - at
least by those in the profession. After all, isn't that how the body of
theory and research was established for other professions - Engineering,
Finance, etc? Having authored, coauthored, or contributed to RIM
textbooks used in colleges and universities in the U.S., I know how much
research and analysis I have done to validate my material. And I know of
other RIM authors who do the same. Is there room for more research and
focus - absolutely! This is one of the objectives of the ARMA
Educational Foundation - to fund RIM research. On the other hand - we
are a small body of practitioners in the scheme of things in the world
and we will not see the major funding and academic research support that
other professions, such as nuclear physics or pharmaceutical
development, receive.
Is there a lack of formal, RIM higher education opportunities to feed
the academic view of the profession? You betcha! Do we need it?
Definitely. As I said previously, the U.K. model of certification is
based on educational credentials more than experience, but even that
model recognizes a professional body of work such as research and
publishing in addition to academic degrees. No one is credentialed in
any profession (that is - considered more than a beginner) based on
academic degree alone.
Ginny Jones
(Virginia A. Jones, CRM, FAI)
Records Manager
Information Technology Division
Newport News Dept. of Public Utilities
Newport News, VA
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