Records and Information Management Strategies

Records and information management strategies are at the heart of managing records and information across all operating environments of the organisation. Robust strategies should be designed to meet organisation’s needs and requirements in order to deliver effective records and information management. This in turn ensures that records and information supports and facilitates good business.

Records and information management strategies may include:

• integrating records and information management into work processes, systems and services
• implementing records and information management to ensure that it is accountable and meets
  business needs
• managing email
• managing risk assessments and use of cloud or similar service arrangements
• managing the use of removable storage
• managing and maintaining the corporate records management system or EDRMS or ECM
• integrating records and information management into business systems and managing and
  preserving records and information of long term value in these systems
• managing records and information held in social media applications
• managing records and information used with mobile devices or BYOD.

Effective records and information management strategies ensure that:

• information assets are managed responsibly and in accordance with best practice
• accurate, reliable and relevant information can be provided to the business and clients
• the organisation’s investment in their information assets is not wasted: information can be
  reused and repackaged to enhance business opportunities and stimulate innovation
• records and information are more accessible and useable and available for those with
  appropriate authority
• costs are reduced as the organisation does not retain records and information unnecessarily
• the organisation can provide stakeholders, with transparency around and accountability for
  government operations
• the organisation is compliant with legislative and audit requirements. 

State Records NSW has provided a template with action examples for Local Government and for other agencies to use and amend to provide a clear direction on managing and improving records and information governance and practices. See below.