I would like to offer the following comment/observation on this debate 
(and it is not on the notion of KM being expressed here - which having 
some background in the area would only set - as we might say down under 
- the cat among the pigeons or the fox among the hounds ).

Retention is one thing. For the RM people it is probably more important 
that beyond the notion of retaining something for x number of years 
they are going to actively have to ensure that the material is managed 
and available in someway for that period. That will require from the RM 
side skills in influencing, negotiation, technical competency 
(knowledge) and political and in-your-face ability.

The RM people are going to have to be able to influence and educate the 
technical people and management to the level that these electronic 
things will have to be managed for x years (possibly "forever") and not 
just the 5 years / 10 years till the system is replaced.

The RM people are going to have to be able to negotiate and educate the 
wider community to the need to maintain and commit to maintain these 
records.

The RM people are going to gain the technical competency to understand 
these long term maintenance issues and be able to speak to others 
(especially the technical people) in a common language.

The RM people are going to have to be in-the-face of others (technical, 
management, political) to achieve the outcomes we aspire to.

Difficult challenges but achievable - and something newer RM inductees 
can aspire to.

Like Maarja I am probably at the tail end of the RM experience 
(although her in the land down under they keep shifting that 'end zone' 
further and further each year) but what we as the statesperson (leaving 
off the adjective you will note) is instill in our acolytes the passion 
for ensuring RM lives on....

Regards

JohnD


On 28/06/2006, at 5:38 AM, Maarja Krusten wrote:

And that Steve and Bill are confident that retention schedules will do 
the trick as far as saving electronic records for "whoever is on the 
other end of the phone" 20 years from now.  I'm 55 with 33 years 
service, and eligible already for federal retirement, so it probably 
won't be me, LOL.  As you al

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