Greg,
   
  You are on the right track. The ECM systems use a system of classification, sometimes called a Business Classification Scheme (BCS).This was the subject of my President's Message for our March ARMA Chapter newsletter. If anyone would like a copy let me know and I'll send it to you. 
   
  The BCS needs to be designed to make it easy for the end user or an application to define groups of records, or buckets. If it is too complex it isn't easy to use, if it is too simple it isn't effective.
   
  The retention schedule and record series are the procedural rules that are used for the management and dispostition of records. The BCS is the user interface in an ERM/ECM System. The retention schedules operate behind the scenes and are applied to the records based on how they are classified.
   
  In creating a BCS I would start with the retention schedule and analyse the record series at a functional level. Then distill it, if necessary, into logical groupings. You may also need a thesaurus to help employees to translate the terms they commonly use to the classification scheme.
   
  Best regards,
  Charmaine Brooks



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