Domesticating Information: Managing Documents Inside the Organization

Domesticating Information: Managing Documents Inside the Organization examines records and documents as complex business objects and explores the many different perspectives required for their management. Viewing documents as business objects requires a much different perspective from treating them as cultural artifacts, where preservation is the primary concern. When viewed as business objects, documents must be looked at in terms of integration with business processes, in defense of litigation subpoenas, or in the implementation of information technology. As a consequence, records managers are business analysts, and therefore are treated as such in this book. How information technology, the law, archives, and library & information science scholarship address and affect document and records management are all considered. Topics covered include: how to manage documents and records in any environment, hard copy vs. electronic documents, and how to create a foundation for managing records that addresses the needs of business and government. By addressing the needs of business and government, the needs of citizens, business web stakeholders, and archivists are also fully addressed.