How to connect records management and business management effectively

Let’s face it, this is a daily struggle for records. We are constantly dismissed by business managers who don’t believe that records has anything to offer them - except for taking time away from their core purpose.

But I think we’re actually very well aligned - if only we both knew it. Once we get back to the real fundamentals of records, I think there’s no conflict - only alignment.

It comes back to the core question -

Why do we record?

I think there's only one reason.

We want to manage things more effectively.

If we had nothing to manage, we wouldn’t need records.

We don't create accurate financial records for historical and compliance purposes, we create them because they allow us to more effectively manage our money.

We don't create accurate land title information for historical and compliance purposes, we create it because it allows us to manage the ownership of land more effectively.

If we have conversations with business managers about what they want to manage better and then really dig at it, I think we are going to find that lots of the problems they are having can be sorted out using records practice.

If we can manage land titles and money by creating records about them, and then organising those records in ways that make them useful, I think we have the tools to improve life for most managers.

If we get it right, we will also have immaculate records - which will lead to amazing archives. Compliance also gets very easy when it is a by-product of improved business management.

I think we just need to stay focused on why we record.