Ooooooh, Larry!  So young....so bitter.

I must admit that the whole idea of using ethics when making decisions about 
investments in records and information management programs is becoming a 
lost art in some organizations.  Many firms would rather just "take their 
chances" and hope that nothing bad will ever happen with regard to their 
records management practices....sort of like a driver making a decision to 
take to the road without purchasing car insurance.

Still, Bill has a point and I prefer to think of him as a benevolent mentor 
passing on the wealth of his experience rather than a troll bemoaning the 
good 'ole days.  There are many firms who continue to make major efforts to 
invest in or maintain good, solid records management programs in spite of 
the bad economy.  Before I took my current position, I insisted on 
interviewing executive management to discuss their philosophy on the subject 
so that I could make sure that we were on the same page.  Fortunately, it 
turned out well and I have enjoyed tremendous support in overhauling the 
current program.  It was a good program, but the volume of information that 
has to be maintained in the industry (thanks to litigation and regulation) 
has forced them to reconsider their current position and move to another 
level.  But, it makes me wonder.  How many firms take the easy way out 
because they don't know how to move forward or make investments in their 
programs so that they are not in a position of risk?  Do they even 
understand the risk of the decisions that they are making and the dollars 
associated with adverse events?  I can honestly say that my training as an 
auditor has equiped me to assess that aspect of records management and lay 
it on the line for executives by asking them to read my reports and tell me 
the level of their risk appetite.  Perhaps, that is aspect of our records 
management profession that needs to mature.

I think the real trolls in the records management industry are the 
executives who excuse bad behavior and then whine some excuse like "but, 
everybody does" as thought they were trying to talk their way out of a 
speeding ticket.

Peace, love, and information governance...y'all!

Angie Fares 

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