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ARCV40070

Academic Year 2024/2025

Managing Records & Information in Public & Private Organisations (ARCV40070)

Subject:
Archivistics
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
History
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Julie Brooks
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module considers the management of current records and information in public and private sector organisations. These information assets are crucial for organisational governance and accountability as well as the rights of individuals and wider society. 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.
Specifically, the module addresses the defining characteristics of records, the scope of records management as a discipline and as a profession, and the challenges it faces. It introduces students to the theories, laws and best practice standards which underpin approaches to managing records and identifies the key aspects of records management programmes including the development of effective retention strategies. Students gain understanding of the main approaches and systems deployed to manage records in different kinds of organisations and how these are being impacted by the development of AI technology. The module considers the reasons why achieving good records management remains a challenge for many organisations and explores the people-centred approaches now informing records management with a focus on employees, information cultures and organisational cultures. Underpinning the module is consideration of the dynamic between people, technology and records.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students should be able to:
-Recognise and communicate the significance of records at individual, organisational and societal level;
-Understand the purpose, nature and scope of records management and how this has evolved;
-Develop familiarity with the main theories, laws and standards relevant to information and records management;
-Identify the components of a records management programme and the key considerations when implementing these in practice;
-Reflect on the implications of people-centred approaches to recordkeeping and of technology-driven change on records management theory and practice.

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; Weeks 3 and 4 Building the foundations for records management initiatives; Weeks 5 and 6 Implementing records management initiatives; Week 7 Records retention decisions;(Week 8 - reading break); Weeks 9, 10 and 11 Approaches, systems and and options for managing records across organisations; Week 12 - Concluding thoughts and future directions for records management.

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. Learning is supported by guest lectures from practitioners working in records management in different kinds of organisations. While there will be discussion in this module of the extent to which generative AI is being used by recordkeepers to assist in the management of records, generative AI may not be used in assessments for the module. If you have any concerns about what is included in the remit of generative AI, please consult with your Module Coordinator.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): Students are required to create a short internal communications piece introducing the importance of good records management in an organisation (submitted as a written article, video, or slideshow) Week 5 Graded No
20
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): The assignment requires students to create a functional-based combined file plan & retention schedule for a fictional organisation supported by a short executive summary aimed at senior managers. Week 10 Graded No
40
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): 2,500 word essay exploring and comparing the work of key writers in records management Week 14 Graded No
40
 No

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 is given in writing on Brightspace after submission and grading. General class feedback is 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.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Wed 14:00 - 15:50
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