Jane

I am somewhat of a heretic in my organisation - I subscribe to both the continuum model and the life cycle model.

While both have their fans and supporters, you have to use what is best for the circumstances.  After all, they are both 'theoretical' models, but you have to apply them practically.  Both have their good points and their weaker points.

Also, most non-records people tend to be able to understand the 'birth-life-death' type analogy.  You do not want to baffle people but use concepts that they understand.  I would also add in a 'gestation' phase, to represent all the things that should happen before a record is created.  Probably should have a 'reincarnation' phase to cover records retained as archives.

Pick the best bits out of both if you need to.

BTW, it is not an 'Australian' Standard that conforms to the continuum model - the International Standard ISO 15489 does too.

Just as an aside, I recommended against the term 'continuum' in a draft publication we are preparing - it would be considered to be "jargon" by most people.


John Lovejoy
[log in to unmask]
Obviously my own views, which may not coincide with those of my employer.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jane Evans [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 5:28 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [RM] re The Australian records continuum model


Hi

 

I am very very new to records management and have been a lurker on this
list for a few weeks.  I work in the UK in the National Health Service.
Because of the Freedom of  Information Act public authorities (outside
of government) are slowly waking up to records management issues.  The
NHS has good records management practise for health records (on the
whole) but hasn't really considered corporate records until FOI came in.


 

A lot of our records are electronically created and held but there are
also paper ones too.  No money for ERMS.  I looked at the Australian
standards and came across this continuum model as opposed to the life
cycle of a record and wondered if anyone was using it and what your
thoughts were?

 

Any help appreciated

 

******************************

Jane Evans

Information Governance & Evaluation Manager

Information Team

Screening Services

18 Cathedral Road

Cardiff

CF11 9LJ

 

Tel:       029 2078 7818

WHTN:  1670 7818

Fax:      029 2078 7900

email:    [log in to unmask]

 

******************************

 


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