Lura Wrote:
I'm responsible for creating retention
schedules, bringing them to the approving committee, doing inventories
of records, and pretty much managing a records program with no records
management background. And its only one part of my job. In fact, I think
it's technically only 10% of my job. 

Chris Wrote:

See it took me ten hours a day to get the work done now I find that it
can be worked by the next generation in an hour a day. See that is what
comes from progress, guess its time to pull in the old horns and go find
a quiet pasture.

Sharon Wrote
I've been asked here by the attorneys I work with why we just can't buy
some schedules.


I am guessing it might only be classified as 10% of Lura's job but I am
betting her records duties take much more than 10% of her time. I don't
know if I can be classified as the next generation but I see this whole
situation as a product of our culture of demand especially concerning
records management which is even more of a problem in the Midwest. So
those of you on the coasts need to count your blessings because it could
be and is much worse for those of us in the middle of the country. When
you tell someone in the Midwest you are in records management you might
as well have told them you work in the field of Crystallomancy or
Crystal Meth for all the good it will do. Check out the job boards and
see how many records positions there are in the Midwest. I don't
consider it very encouraging for the field at all.

As I see it the corporate world is based on reactive management while
records management is proactive. It an impossible paradox that I hope we
will escape with time. Everything in today's world is required to be on
demand. When upper management is faced with a process like records
management that won't conform to that instant demand it disconnects. I
constantly hear about records projects that management thinks can be
done by by one person in two months despite the reality it will take 5
people 2 years to complete just one phase of that project. 

As someone who is relatively new to the field of records management I
wonder where it is going and what steps do I need to take to ensure I
will be able to keep up with it and actually have a decent job 3, 10 or
30 years down the road. Anymore, I seem to have more questions than
answers. I wonder if Chris is right since it is impossible keep up with
the IT advances unless you are working in an IT job all-day everyday. Or
should I just forget it and join Chris in the pasture right now?

Where do the records gurus out there think the field will be in 3, 20,
or even 30 years from now? What will it take to be successful in this
field in the future? Anyone have their crystal ball booted up today? 


Rob Seibolt

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