Greater Seattle Chapter of ARMA International

FROM ARMA INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT-ELECT DAVE McDERMOTT: FACTS AND ADVICE

[This item submitted by Susan Priebe, Chapter Secretary.]

President-Elect Dave McDermott was a guest at the joint Bellevue/Eastside and Greater Seattle chapter meeting on November 6, 2003. Toward the end of Dave’s presentation, he shared some very interesting statistics from Reuters with the attendees, as well as his thoughts on what he believed to be important aspects for us to consider in our future as records professionals. Here are the statistics:

• 75% of records are still in paper form
• 15% of all organizational revenue is spent on the creation, management, and distribution of information
• 49% feel that they are unable to handle the amount of information received
• 60% of people’s time is spent working with records
• 38% believe they waste substantial time looking for information
• 48% believe the Internet is the primary cause of information overload

Here are Dave’s thoughts on our challenges, what we must know, and the expansion of our skills.

Current Challenges:
• Manage all types of information, physical and virtual
• Management of electronic information
• E signatures and digital coding
• Privacy issues
• HIPAA
• Sarbanes Oxley

What We Must Know:
• Must understand technology as a tool
• Must develop policies and procedures that support the strategic direction of the organization
• Be able to create and maintain record programs and services
• Store and protect information and knowledge

Expanding Our skills:
• Ability to think strategically
• Exceptional personal interaction skills
• Ability to manage multiple projects
• Ability to think conceptually
• Exceptional verbal and written skills
• Understand digital systems
• Know how to integrate multiple types of information systems