ARCV40070 Managing Records & Information in Public & Private Organisations

Academic Year 2022/2023

This module considers the management of current records and information, increasingly in a predominantly digital form, in public and private sector organisations. These information assets are crucial for organisational governance and accountability as well as the rights of the individual and wider societal memory. Records professionals are core participants in their management and occupy a defining role whether as records or information managers, in roles encompassing combined archival and records management responsibilities, as members of a multi-disciplinary information governance team, or in a consultancy role.
While the module considers the management of records and information, it addresses the defining characteristics of records, the scope of records management as a discipline and as a profession, and the challenges it faces. It addresses the principal issues which impact on the management and keeping of records, the theories, laws and standards which underpin these processes, the nature of records, the key aspects of developing records management programmes, electronic records and the options available for their management, and the implementation of effective retention strategies. The module also considers the value of records management to wider organisational governance, including business continuity and risk management strategies. Throughout the module there is emphasis on the need for records professionals to be cognizant of (and responsive to) the key factors which significantly shape records and information creation and management, including people, organisational cultures, information cultures, and technology trends in the workplace.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

• Recognise and communicate the significance of records at individual, organisational and societal level
• Define and communicate the purpose, nature and scope of records management and how this has evolved
• Identify and assess theories, laws and standards relevant to information and records management
• Understand the foundations for developing a records management programme and the key considerations when implementing these in practice
• Recognise various systems and options for the management of digital records
• Understand the role of records in business continuity practice and wider risk management

Indicative Module Content:

The module will cover the following broad areas: Week 1 Introduction to records management and the evolution of records creation and recordkeeping; Week 2 Records theory, concepts and key international standards; Week 3 Building the foundations for records management initiatives #1; Week 4 Building the foundations for records management initiatives #2 Week 5 Overview of key activities in managing records; Week 6 The legislative environment impacting on recordkeeping; Week 8 Records retention; Week Weeks 9-10, Managing electronic records: issues, approaches, systems, standards and specifications; Week 11, Evolving and emerging technologies and records management; Week 12 Records management advocacy, vital records and managing risk

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Small Group

22
Specified Learning Activities

90
Autonomous Student Learning

90
Total

202
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module comprises small-group teaching, delivered chiefly via a 2 hour weekly seminar based around the introduction and discussion of key concepts and best practice supported by lecture slides, case study examples, the review of sample policy documents and active class discussion. The challenges of managing current records and translating best practice and theory into strategies in real-world work places are a key area of discussion and students are encouraged to participate both individually and through in-class group activities. Student learning is reinforced by guest lectures from practitioners. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment: Practical assignment with reflective element Week 11 n/a Graded No

40
Assignment: Article for organisational newsletter Week 5 n/a Graded No

20
Assignment: Essay Unspecified n/a Graded No

40

Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on all assessments will be given in writing on the returned hard copy. Class feedback will be given post-assessment on the first assignment (worth 20%) to support students with the two subsequent assessments (each worth 40%). Individual oral feedback on all assignments will be provided by one-to-one meetings if requested by students.