On 4/20/06, Graham Kitchen <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Wow!! This simple question has set of a real fire storm.


Well said, and I think I'd like to add a bit of qualifying information about
the question, why it was asked and what the intent was. As many of you know,
ARMA is in the process of developing a set of RIM Competencies and this
issue came up in that Project. Just like not all RIMs are responsible for
microfilming, imaging, library services or archives management, they're not
ALL responsible for mailroom operations.... but some are.

But I think we are forgetting that Records Management is managing the
> information from creation/collection to final disposition.  This
> includes Mail Management on the collection end, Forms Management on the
> creation end (and along with this Procedures Management, because when
> you do the analysis on the form you know the procedure requirement), and
> if imaging at the collection point has been found to be the most logical
> point, then so be it.  If  this works for your organization.... great.
> If not... don't do it.


This pretty much sums up the "why" it was asked... there is RIM and there is
RIM, and depending on the size of your organization, your RIM Program,
organizational alignment, functions you provide and responsibilities
associated with RIM for your situation, there is no perfect answer.

The intent was to determine (from a broad spectrum of RIM
Practitioners/Professionals) WHAT IS REALLY happening in the current
situation in RIM.  And I can tell from the responses received thus far, as
much as many of the newer RIMs may want to distance themselves from the
function as much as possible, those of us who are a bit "longer in the
tooth" in this field know that it was once considered an integral component,
as much as forms management and policy and procedure distribution were.

If you look at all the classic texts related to RIM, it's there.... and as
indicated in one post yesterday, if you take the ICRM exam, it's there...
and there in some pretty heavy detail. That said, neither of these are
indicators that IT SHOULD REMAIN THERE.  I'm sure there are plenty of
opinions that it should be removed, and as soon as possible, but maybe more
importantly, it should be brought current to address issues of
capture/scanning of incoming mail, assisting in the development of e-mail
storage and retention policies, developing classification systems for
indexing of e-mail (by content) to determine appropriate retention periods
and other aspects of "managing incoming information sources" rather than
mail management and mailroom operations.

There are very few absolutes in Records
> Management.


ABSOLUTELY!! =)

It depends on budget, personalities and corporate culture. You have to
>  take what works for you and your organization and run with it.
>

True... and if you're a company of 50-100 with one person who is the
receptionist, file room manager, mail service, copy room, etc., that that's
the "corporate culture" you live in.  Records and Information Managers and
their "departments" come in all shapes and sizes... some organizations don't
even HAVE Records Management as a function on their org charts (GASP!!!)

But for those that do, it would be nice to know if you are responsible for
the handling of incoming and/or outgoing mail and if you are, what
skills/knowledge do you feel is required to appropriately operate that
function?  And, do you feel that this is a "competency" that should exist in
an RIM's toolkit.

Larry
--
Larry Medina
Danville, CA
RIM Professional since 1972

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