1. Reinventing Archival Methods
Observations from the real world: panel discussion exploring the impacts of our existing methods
Judith Ellis – 30 November 2012

2. Recordkeeping Snapshot
Practitioners operate at micro level – standards & models encourage this – but it doesn’t work
Business works electronically – but the ‘records’ are paper
Hybrid operations & systems – parallel, duplicated stores
Use of ECMs/EDRMs – middling to low. Expensive, difficult, challenged. Success is ECMs/EDRMs as a service to business system & process
Hardcopy disposal as usual
Little e-disposal; little e-archiving

3. Recordkeeping Snapshot
Current archival methods = off the radar for business
Hard to understand & implement for practitioners – expensive, challenges in practice
Archivist - still no/little influence over selecting/controlling digital archival records

4. Lessons Learnt Shortfall between business needs & what we provide
Organisations only do what they have to. Cost of ‘compliant’ recordkeeping = high & onerous
Risk = paramount. Build into thinking, standards, models & practice
Risk > macro approach to needs and solutions. Better outcomes
Standards do not translate into better practice. Build a bridge – principles & practical guidance

5. Lessons Learnt
ECM/EDRMs not suitable for the way people work > build recordkeeping capability into or behind existing systems
Build recordkeeping processes into business processes
Little digital archives over past 30 yrs > act fast, smart, achievable
We find & use information differently than 30 yrs ago > technology-driven description, control, finding & use of records & content

6. Contact
Judith Ellis Enterprise Knowledge Pty Ltd Phone: or mobile: