On 8/14/07, John Annunziello <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Larry said:  "And I will offer forth the opinion that the majority of the
> CRMs from those days that are still practicing possess knowledge that is
> equally as, if not more relevant, than the ones who passed in the mid-1990s
> forward."
>
> Larry, good thing that suit is on. I was going to stay out of this....but
> methinks I need to be involved
>
> Having just completed CRM exam 2-5, I would hazard to guess that if many
> of the current crop of CRM's from the '80's to '90's were to write today,
> they would probably not pass section 5 which is technology, equipment and
> supplies and perhaps others.


John-

If you were TRULY reading between the lines, you would have keyed in on the
qualifier in my statement above "..that are still practicing...".  Most of
these individuals, folks like Bill B, Alan A, Doug A, John P, Ginny J, Peter
K, Steve W, Rick W, Judy T, Ray C, Bill R, Susan McK, and many others who
regularly post here and are still practicing CRMs who have taken the
responsibility to remain current in their education and knowledge, and have
also brought forward what they knew that is slowly being  forgotten. And
believe me, they would **ALL** pass Pt. 5 =)  Some of them actually
participated in WRITING it.

We are in a field that is currently changing
> and there are no easy answers.  The RIM field uses a systematic approach
> to records.  Now that e-records are part of the RIM experience, that
> systematic approach cannot often be used.   Now I'm not saying that there
> is no system, but what I'm saying is that often there is not just one way
> of doing things in the e-world. It is like trying to hit a "moving
> target".  To say that a CRM from the "early days"  is more knowledgeable
> (I'm reading between the lines) is not valid.


Yeah, well like I've always said, "Opinions are like elbows, everybody's got
one".... no now wait a minute, everyone has TWO elbows... Hmm, what was it
that everyone has ONE of??  =)

(And no John, I'm NOT calling you one of 'those', I've sat with you, spoken
to you, and consumed beer with you, so don't mistake my comment for an
insult!)

Records, irrespective of media, form, or format are managed in essentially
the same manner.  Sticking an "e-" or even the whole word "electronic" in
front of them doesn't make them any different or more complex to manage, it
simply means you need to learn new techniques.  Plumbing is a new
technology, but few shy away from flush toilets... cellular phones are
relatively recent, but not too many people say they won't use them.... and
records generated on a little box (well, when electronic formats of records
were first developed, they were on MUCH BIGGER boxes) are no different...
people generate them, RIMs manage them.

  In essence, you are saying
> that the CRM accreditation is not as valued today as it was yesterday.
> Would someone from the ICRM like to address this?


I'd WELCOME the ICRM addressing this, and if they want to take a cruise
through the Listserv Archives, they can find tons of evidence to support the
claim. I've seen many employers adding "CRM desired" to position postings
recently, and even as long ago as the late 1990s, but when you ask the HR
person that you contact what that means, for the most part, they respond
"Umm, I don't know". SOMEONE in the organization does,  and someone seems to
find it of value, but generally the request is followed closely by "or
equivalent experience"

Today's CRM tests are not easy...nor were they yesterday.  I'll don my
> suit now and say that with todays RIM needing knowledge in the e-records
> and IT areas, it is now more difficult to attain the CRM than it was
> before.  Having been a RIM for close to 20 years, my struggles are mainly
> in the e-records area.


I never said they weren't difficult now (or then) but in the past, you
couldn't simply study for the test... you had to have walked many miles in
the shoes of a RIM to pass the test, or even qualify to take it.  And yes,
there is still a requirement for the experience component in the process to
apply to test, but if all of a person's experience is in the present RIM
world, they won't be able to answer the basic RIM questions that are posed
of them.

There's no question a "modern day RIM" needs to be cognizant of IT
practices, techniques, equipment, etc. But they still need to know how to do
the routine tasks, and when someone hires a consultant to do a BPR, BPA,
functional or needs analysis, and assist them in implementing an ERMS to
gain better control of their records, stored electronically or in physical
form, they're going to need the "old world skills" as well.


Yes....I can feel the flames....but I've got broad shoulders.



I think if there are flames, they wil be aimed MUCH LOWER...I know I've
never worried much about protecting my  shoulders personally. =)

Respectfully,

Larry
-- 
Larry Medina
Danville, CA
RIM Professional since 1972

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance
To unsubscribe from this list, click the below link. If not already present, place UNSUBSCRIBE RECMGMT-L or UNSUB RECMGMT-L in the body of the message.
mailto:[log in to unmask]