Introduction

Between Monday 4th August and Friday 26th September an online survey, compiled by JISC infoNet in association with Cimtech Ltd, was hosted and advertised to records professionals working in the UK Further and Higher Education sectors. During this period 62 responses were received from 59 institutions.

Summary of main findings

• Further Analysis - Click for a detailed breakdown of the data received from the survey.

Download a printable version of the survey results (PDF)

In summary, our main findings are that:

1. A significant amount of progress has clearly already been made across the FE/HE sector in relation to records management in a comparatively short space of time by a relatively new practitioner community

2. There is clearly considerable interest in - and existing activity surrounding - the implementation of institution-wide records management policies, procedures and systems

3. Most of the proposed records management system implementations are ambitious in scope, with the intention of directly affecting the working environment of staff across the institution

4. However, there appears to be a significant gulf between the commonly accepted current nature and extent of the records management function's remit and that likely to be required to successfully implement institution-wide record keeping systems

5. Despite a continued belief in the benefits of implementing an institution-wide records management solution (perhaps given fresh impetus by the availability of new, seemingly more affordable, products such as Microsoft Sharepoint) there is still considerable work to be done in most institutions in terms of first establishing the foundations on which such systems must be founded

Those interested in the results of this survey may also be interested to learn of further initiatives planned by JISC infoNet to support the development of this agenda over the next 12-18 months. These include:

• a two-day conference exploring approaches to electronic records management and how to measure the impact of records management initiatives being held in Newcastle on the 3rd-4th March 2009

• A major review and update of the existing EDRMS implementation infoKit

• Continuing to monitor the role of records management within an information governance context via the annual Information Legislation & Management Survey

• A new JISC-funded research project aimed at establishing a framework for accurately measuring the benefits and return on investment achieved through implementing records management solutions

Steve Bailey
October 2008