Hi Claire,
I would first look for their Achilles Heel(s) - are they in a regulated industry? (eg: Pharmaceuticals, food manufacturing, tobacco, etc...). What are the regulatory, legal and audit requirements for their business? How well are they complying? These are the things they must take account of, and which senior managers will understand.
Identify and show them what would be the internal benefits to them of doing RM better. Sell the idea that RM would make them more efficient because key information, knowledge, records, would be more easily findable and useable; and RM would enable them to do more, with less resources (except that is, for RM staff of course!). You can help, not hinder or over-complicate things, or cost money - on the contrary, you can help them save money!
RM interacts with: Physical site and IT Security; accommodation and administration (secretarial support; internal mail & distribution; on and off-site file storage; stationery & office equipment); Finance and Internal Audit; Legal; Regulatory Compliance; Intellectual Property; IT; Information Management & KM. Show them how this is true - think in context of the Business Continuity Plan, and what RM can contribute to that.
Demonstrate your willingness to work with these people, not compete against them. Leave turf wars to other people. You (RM) are open-minded, and company-oriented, and enthusiastic and positive, not at all negative! Besides which, RM is 85% common-sense, and has been around for thousands of years...it is only people's perception that has changed (IT has usurped some of that, and made us all into our own typists and filing clerks).
Above all, think positively, and strategically - RM can facilitate and co-ordinate all the other key players (see interactions above). What we do, is what the old 'Office Manager' used to do.
Hope that this helps?? Feel free to get in touch again. Best regards, Mike.
Mike Marsh, MSc(RM)
Corporate Archives & Records Management, Director.
JT-International, S.A.
Room 822, Chemin Rieu, 14,
CH-1211, Geneva 17, Switzerland.
Direct Tel: (+41) (0)22 703 0959
Mobile Tel: (+41) (0)79 217 1444
Fax: (+41) (0)22 703 0281
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: Claire Park [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: lundi, 10. février 2003 11:23
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Second of Two Questions
If you had to sell Records Management to a company that was totally
clueless what approach would take and why?
Claire
Records Manager
Cumbria Record Centre
Ashley Street
CARLISLE
Cumbria
CA2 7BD
(01228) 607280
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