Subject: | |
From: | |
Reply To: | |
Date: | Thu, 28 May 2009 14:26:58 -0400 |
Content-Type: | text/plain |
Parts/Attachments: |
|
|
Snip from Donald:
> From: "Mattson, Donald J" <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: May 27, 2009 11:43:01 AM EDT
>
> Offsite vendors are like any vendor, they are in it for the money.
> As we move forward and as regulations and laws are passed making our
> services more critical, the business enterprise is going to have to
> make allowance for the records professional to be more involved with
> the contract negotiations. However, once a vendor starts creating an
> environment where they are in full control of content without the
> liability that we the owner must take head on... alone. Remember
> that wonderful article that reported the comments by the then CEO of
> the biggest records vendor, "even if it is our fault, it is your
> fault" not a direct quote but my interpretation of it.
Your comment about the vendor taking control is a key one. Allowing
the vendor to make up new rules without your input would expose you to
liability as it reflects a lack of control and failure to protect the
records from outside interference. Once integrity is voided then what
do you have as a defense?
There have been many great comments in this commentary and I would
suggest that you copy the best ones and create a memo to management to
show the enduring value of records management overseeing such an
important contract. This is preferable to leaving it in the hands of a
Purchasing Officer who exposes the organization to risk if they did
not include an SLA that is ironclad as Donald suggested.
Larry was this issue covered in the ARMA suggest CRC Storage
Contract? Maybe this needs to be added?
I agree that if a box is damaged it must be dealt with but the RM
needs to be responsible for that. If there is no RM then the offsite
storage company may be forced to act protect the clients box integrity
but certainly not without letting the client have input.
>> Snip from: Rock on! Sharon
>>
>> Sharon Burnett, CRM
>> [log in to unmask]
>> Seattle Washington USA
> What are these people doing that's causing a 3 or 4 year old box to
> fail?
>
> Don't have an answer, but as we audit our collection we are finding
> many boxes that are crushed. None of these were ever recalled by us.
> Maybe I should send my former vendor a bill?
I believe Dwight had it just right as to why boxes are seeing more
wear and tear.
Also, the shorter shelf life means that boxes are being pulled for
shredding more aggressively and this is creating wear on surrounding
boxes.
Offsite vendors are in it for the money as is every company. I know
hundreds of well run, high integrity CRC companies and they are out
there. You sit in church next to them. Your son places on the same
baseball team as their son. Your daughter plays on the same football
team as their son. See how I avoided being sexist there! ;~)
Too many people complain about problems but don't change vendors. If
more RM's delivered an ultimatum (with your SLA and Contract) or used
the power of changing vendors to express dissatisfaction, wrongs would
be righted because these companies are in it for the money. But there
are many who are in it because they feel they can do it better.
Others because they believe they are more secure or have better
facilities and even vaults.
If you attended PRISM's last educational conference and saw all the
companies signed up to learn how to deliver more security and improve
their service, you would know choices are out there. Integrity,
Security and Chain of Custody were constantly talked about. White
papers were delivered, audit guidelines were provided and I was
impressed. The service is out there. I would even state that many of
the CRC owners know more about records management than many of the
people walking the floor at ARMA. Their business depends on it. They
deliver 100% of what their clients demand. So it is back to the RM to
be more demanding and having input into the contract.
Hugh Smith
FIRELOCK Fireproof Modular Vaults
[log in to unmask]
(610) 756-4440 Fax (610) 756-4134
WWW.FIRELOCK.COM
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]
|
|
|