This one may be slightly different.... This is a story where "missing
files" lead to the establishment of a Records Management program.

In the 1970's (yeah, I go back that far).... after the passage of
legislation barring bribery of foreign officials in pursuit of business
(the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act).... the Securities and Exchange
Commission began looking into a major oil company's practices.  

As a part of their efforts, the travelled to London to look over some of
the international accounting records of that firm.  The International
Comptroller, having been warned of the SEC's coming "visit", promptly
engaged in an effort to rid the firm of any potentially incriminating
files.  As "luck would have it", the destruction of records became known
to the SEC investigators...... something not a positive experience for a
publically held firm.  A number of the firm's executives, well... were
invited to leave their employment.

In coming to a settlement with the SEC the oil firm had to formally
establish a Records Management program over all of its records, provide
for audits on the progress of the establishment of records retention
schedules, and audits of destruction processes.  

In a rather odd twist of fate, the International Comptroller did not
lose his job.  Instead he was charged with the responsibility of
establishing that company's first organization-wide Records Management
program.  

How's that for an unusual "missing records" story?  I still laugh today,
every time that I think about it.

Douglas P. Allen, CRM, CDIA+
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