I agree with Sue on one point...that this is quite a fascinating
thread...however at that point we diverge

Sue said "...The next generation of RIMs will no doubt require an extensive
and broad education in the area even to get a job."

I really don't think so Sue...at least not the kind of education you're
talking about.  It's bordering on offensive to assert that people who "come
up through the ranks" will no longer be able to cut it in the future.

I have employed approximately 50 RIM people over the past 10-12 years...I've
employed file indexers, sentencers, people to write retention schedules,
consultants, people to prepare classification schemes, business analysts,
software configuration experts, trainers etc etc etc.  This has taken place
in several different organisations.

After doing all of this employing of people I have a very strong preference
for employing people with practical experience over people who are 'suitably
educated'.  If I had a choice between someone with 5 years experience and no
education or someone with a College/University qualification but no
experience I'd take the person with experience only EVERY TIME.  I've
employed people straight from RIM Uni courses who have no practical
experience (and sorry the few weeks they might spend doing glorified work
experience as part of their course does not cut the mustard) and they just
don't stack up.  All the theoretical knowledge in the world does not prepare
them for the myriad of challenges that occur within the average
organisation...the lack of resources, the lack of interest, the competing
priorities....I can honestly say I haven't had a single good experience
employing someone straight from a Uni course who has no practical
experience. The most troubling thing about these people is that it is often
impossible to "un teach" them...they are fairly rigid in wanting to adhere
to the theories they have learned.  It is FAR EASIER to teach someone who
has some practical experience about the theories and research relating to
our profession (because they are far more able to judge what they read/hear
with a critical eye rather than absorbing it all like sponges).

So it seems to me (from what I've read in this thread) that the CRM is on
the right track in that it takes people who have a dose of intelligence
(they managed to secure a bachelor's degree in something) and a healthy
amount of practical experience and working knowledge of the field and
provides some "rounding out" via examination.  I LIKE the fact that it takes
people with degrees in anything from science to pre-law to economics....I
think it makes the profession far more useful to have people with a variety
of knowledge backgrounds.

Some evidence to support my theory...

...About 20 years ago here in Aus they changed the way you have to study for
Law by making you study something else first...economics is the most popular
but there are people who choose to study science, history, politics etc in
conjunction with their law studies and it has been very successful.

...You cannot study social work here before you are 21...so you either work
for a couple of years after leaving high school or you study something
different until you reach 21...In many cases people do volunteer or
para-professional work in the field until they can study...so they obtain
practical, working knowledge BEFORE they start learning the theory...again
it has been very successful

...You cannot do an MBA (here anyway) without having "x" number of years
practical experience

IMHO I think that if the traditional academic institutions don't clue up to
these facts (not just for our own profession) they will become increasingly
irrelevant (Sorry Sue).  There are many other ways to obtain qualifications
or certifications these days that would be equally useful in an individual
gaining promotional opportunities (which is primarily what we're after
right?) AND employers gaining good, knowledgeable workers.

To re-state my own biases...I have a Bachelors degree in International
Politics (obtained 17 years ago), 17 years almost-uninterrupted experience
in the RIM field, a Masters degree in Information Management Systems
(obtained 8 years ago).

Cheers, Bernadette

Bernadette Bean
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mob:0412 848750
email: [log in to unmask]

When life hands you lemons, ask for Tequila and Salt

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