Records Management Journal

Daniel, Jacquiline; Ndumbaro, Faraja

2023 Records Management Journal

doi: 10.1108/rmj-02-2021-0003

Human resource capability is an important factor in determining institutional capacities in digital records preservation. This study aims to assess human resource capabilities in supporting digital records preservation in Tanzania, with special reference to the Records and Archives Management Department (RAMD) and Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA).Design/methodology/approachThis study employed a descriptive case study design with multiple cases to generate insights into the topic under inquiry. Simple random and purposive sampling methods were used to select study respondents. Data were collected using questionnaires, interviews and documentary review. Qualitative data collected were subjected to content analysis, whereas quantitative data were analysed using international business machine-corporation-statistical packages and service solution.FindingsRAMD and RITA have minimal human resource capabilities, as they contend with a shortage of qualified staff and technical personnel for digital records preservation. The shortage of funds, lack of management commitment to preserving digital records, lack of staff awareness on digital records preservation and inadequate participation of records practitioners in digital records preservation emerged as pressing challenges the two agencies contended with.Practical implicationsThis study’s recommendations include finding alternative sources of funding, employing digital records specialists and provision of training on digital records preservation. Furthermore, this study proposes a framework that institutions can use in assessing human resource capabilities for digital records preservation.Originality/valueThis study contributes new knowledge and insights on the role of human resource capabilities in supporting digital records preservation in a resource-poor country.

Alexopoulos, Charalampos; Saxena, Stuti; Rizun, Nina; Shao, Deo

2023 Records Management Journal

doi: 10.1108/rmj-06-2022-0017

This research paper aims to present a framework of open government data (OGD) relating to e-service quality dimensions. In addition, it provides a research agenda for the e-service delivery of OGD.Design/methodology/approachA literature review pertaining to e-service quality with special reference to e-government was delivered to deduce the key dimensions of e-service quality for OGD.FindingsFive e-service quality dimensions of OGD are identified in the study; website design, fulfilment, service provision to the user while interfacing with the OGD Web portal, service provision to the user during and after the value-creation and innovation period and security/privacy. To further OGD re-use for value creation and innovation, it is important that the e-service quality dimensions are built into all OGD programmes by public authorities.Originality/valueHitherto, extant research has focused on the data quality dimensions of OGD, but the dimensions linked with e-service have not been explored. This study seeks to fill this gap and, in addition, suggests further research requirements in this field.

Wendelken, Seren

2023 Records Management Journal

doi: 10.1108/rmj-10-2022-0027

The purpose of this paper is to review the recordkeeping response to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand. It identifies how archival authorities supported potential changes in recordkeeping practice as a result of constraints brought about by the pandemic, in particular the shift to work-from-home as the dominant paradigm.Design/methodology/approachAnalysis of guidance, standards and initiatives published online by New Zealand archival authorities in the early stages of the pandemic was undertaken and contextualised with international counterparts.FindingsFindings indicate that guidance provided to support changes in recordkeeping practice brought about by the pandemic was high-level, outlining potential considerations and possible pitfalls but did not provide applied advice on how to approach the shift to a work-from-home reality.Originality/valueResearch into the effects of the pandemic on recordkeeping practice and output is in its infancy; this paper contributes a brief insight into the New Zealand experience.

Andoh, Raphael Papa Kweku; Dei Mensah, Rebecca; Tetteh, Stephen; Boampong, Georgina Nyantakyiwaa; Adom-Nyankey, Kofi; Asare, Bernice

2023 Records Management Journal

doi: 10.1108/rmj-12-2021-0043

Human resource records are the cornerstone of human resource management. Organizations rely a great deal on their employees to furnish them with human resource records, which is crucial to the effective management of the employees and the success of the organization. It is evident, however, that personal information-related issues in organizations are of significant concern and that examining employees’ perceptions and attitudes regarding personal information management is extremely valuable. Yet, this is largely absent in the literature. This study, therefore, aims to investigate the influence of perceptions of employees concerning the uses and security of human resource records on their attitude toward human resource records in Ghana.Design/methodology/approachA descriptive survey design was used in this study. An online questionnaire was used to gather responses from employees for analyses. A structural equation model was developed and assessed because of the advantages that come with its use and the characteristics of this study. The assessment of the structural equation model was done to determine the significance of the hypothesized paths. In addition, effect size, coefficient of determination and predictive relevance of the structural model were assessed. Before that, the validity and reliability of the measurement model were examined through the assessment of the indicator loadings, average variance extracted, Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability. An importance-performance map analysis (IPMA) was also conducted.FindingsThe hypotheses formulated in this study could not be rejected because the hypotheses tested were statistically significant. Thus, this study revealed that employees’ perception of the uses of human resource records influenced their attitude toward human resource records. Also, employees’ perception of the security of human resource records influenced their attitude toward human resource records. The IPMA revealed that the perception of uses of human resource records was more important, yet its performance was below the perception of security as significant.Practical implicationsHuman resource records management professionals, particularly in Ghana, ought to ensure that the human resource records in their organizations are used for the purpose for which they are collected and also, secured. In addition, they should assure employees that their personal information is used as expected and secured. This could be realized with the use of international records management standards especially those in the ISO 30300 series. More so, human resource managers as part of their counseling duties also need to counsel employees so that they form positive perceptions about the uses and security of the personal information they give to their organization in the course of their employment.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study brings to light the attitude of employees toward human resource records based on their perceptions of uses and security in the Ghanaian context which is absent in the literature as previous studies have focused mainly on personal information management behavior only at the individual level.

Haraldsdottir, Ragna Kemp; Foscarini, Fiorella; Jeurgens, Charles; Henttonen, Pekka; Oliver, Gillian; Wendelken, Seren; Frings-Hessami, Viviane

2023 Records Management Journal

doi: 10.1108/rmj-04-2023-0025

The purpose of this paper was to investigate how recordkeepers in Canada, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Iceland and Italy experienced accomplishing their tasks from home over varying lengths of time during the COVID-19 pandemic.Design/methodology/approachA multilingual survey including 44 questions was designed and administered to the six countries identified above in 2022. This research was preceded by an environmental scan looking at existing studies considering archival and records management responses to the pandemic.FindingsThe impact of working from home on recordkeeping and, more generally, work performance was perceived differently by the survey respondents depending on various factors. The study also identified a number of similarities across countries, such as an increased awareness of the importance of records management shared by organizational actors. Surprisingly, the pandemic did not appear to have a great impact on the perceived quality of records management.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study aiming to capture records professionals’ perceptions of their role while working from home during the pandemic.

Balogun, Tolulope

2023 Records Management Journal

doi: 10.1108/rmj-10-2022-0029

The purpose of this study is to highlight the indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) preservation efforts in South Africa, with a focus on the National Recordal System and the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Documentation Centres (IKSDCs) across South Africa.Design/methodology/approachAnchored in the interpretivist paradigm, the qualitative research approach was adopted to explore the objectives of the study. The multiple case study method was considered appropriate and adopted for the study. The data for this study was collected through comprehensive face-to-face interviews and Web content analysis. The population of the study consisted of the staff at the IKSDCs in the selected academic institutions. The purposive sampling technique was used to select the following set of participants in each academic institution: IKS managers/coordinators, digitization officers and online collection administrators.FindingsThe findings provide an in-depth understanding of the IKS landscape in South Africa. The findings and recommendations of this paper would be useful to researchers who wish to know more about digitization efforts in South Africa. It would also be useful to all stakeholders and policymakers.Originality/valueThe paper brings to the fore the efforts of the South African government in preserving IKS through documentation and digitization. The paper highlights the sources of indigenous knowledge, types of indigenous knowledge captured, how the indigenous knowledge is ingested in the repositories and how the data is captured. Generally, the roles of the IKSDCs in the capture and preservation of IKS are highlighted.