Influencing Skills for Records Managers

Influencing Skills for Records Managers: An Exploration of the Opportunity to Engage with Business

In June 2011 Dr Rod Dilnutt will present this paper to the 11th International Conference on Knowledge, Culture and Change in Organisations, to be held in Madrid, Spain.

Abstract

Risk mitigation and operational improvement are the general aims of the record keeping profession.  In the contemporary business environment the records manager strives to keep abreast of regulatory requirements, new standards and technical solutions.  Many business initiatives have record keeping implications but seldom is the records manager seen as a key contributor to the decision making process.

This paper explores the context of record keeping and argues a need for the records manager to be proactive in assuring that any record keeping implications are considered in business decision making.  It identifies opportunities for the records manager to make his/her voice heard through the investigation of the current change management practices.  The concepts of emotional intelligence and an understanding of the process of change offer techniques that the records manager can leverage to build the requisite relationships and recognition that will enable them to positively contribute to organizational decision making.

This study is the first exploratory step aimed at understanding and developing the records manager’s capability to improve the recognition of the importance of record keeping in contemporary organisations.  Subsequent research will explore the impact the adoption of emotional intelligence and an enhanced understanding of change have on successfully embedding record keeping practices into the organisational decision making process.

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