Steve, just another (hopefully) shorter note: I agree with you to a
large extent, however, when we talk about how much we hate paper, our
customers come to the conclusion that eliminating the paper solves the
problem - period. If there is one major cause of electronic records
problems in my neck of the woods, it is the notion that simply scanning
or eliminating the paper will solve all problems, with no focus
whatsoever on managing the resulting electronic objects as complete,
authentic and reliable records. Eliminating paper is only a side benefit
of electronic records keeping. The main benefits are improved business
processes. IMHO, the main reason paper still exists is because of the
failure of most electronic systems to function effectively as records
keeping systems. It's no longer an issue of technology in most cases, it
is an issue of ignorance and lack of resources. This is where the true
backwards thinking is - with decision makers that refuse to grasp the
vital importance of basic records keeping practices.

We are the visionaries - they are the ones stuck in the 50's. I hate bad
records keeping even more, regardless of media. Address that issue
effectively across technologies, and the paper will begin to go away.

Dwight Wallis, CRM
Records & Distribution Services Manager
Multnomah County Fleet, Records, Electronics, Distribution & Stores
(FREDS)
1620 SE 190th Avenue
Portland OR 97233
phone: (503)988-3741
fax: (503)988-3754
[log in to unmask]

List archives at http://lists.ufl.edu/archives/recmgmt-l.html
Contact [log in to unmask] for assistance