Records Management Journal

Martin Sanderson

2001 Records Management Journal

doi: 10.1108/EUM0000000007263

The purpose of this paper is to consider the question ‘is it necessary and appropriate for records managers to play a role in identifying and capturing tacit knowledge into records and maintaining them accordingly, and by doing so safeguarding the organisation’s intellectual assets, moving human capital into structural capital’? Nonaka emphasises that tacit knowledge is a main source for creating new knowledge and continuous innovation. The need for, and ability of, organisations to capture tacit knowledge remains a disputed academic issue. Considering Nonaka’s hierarchy of data → information → knowledge, the need for a reverse movement from knowledge → information seems to be a fair and logical conclusion. Making the case for capturing tacit knowledge, this paper goes on to discuss some of the implications for records management and records managers. There are no easy solutions on offer for the successful capture and re‐use of tacit knowledge but questions are raised about the role of records managers. Developing relevant skills and taking responsibility for helping organisations with this strategic goal, thereby contributing to some core aspirations of our employers, should be an exciting prospect and worthwhile activity.

Andrew Brown

2001 Records Management Journal

doi: 10.1108/EUM0000000007264

This article examines the effects of the Greater London Authority Act 1999 which makes changes to the accountability of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) by making it responsible to an independent police authority in the same way as other police forces in England and Wales. This is likely to affect the legal status of its records as ‘public records’. A comparison is made between current MPS practices and those of other police forces, together with an examination of the use of police records at the Public Record Office. The article attempts to show that, by making the MPS responsible to an independent authority rather than the Home Secretary, it is the authority, rather than the force, which will be subject to the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972 for records purposes, and the resulting change in status may result in a more fragmentary preservation of historical material.

Edward Atkinson

2001 Records Management Journal

doi: 10.1108/EUM0000000007265

This article describes a data warehouse by comparing definitions. It examines the difference between a database and a data warehouse, and gives definitions of datamarts and data mining. The article goes on to look at methods for implementing a data warehouse, and problems that can be encountered during implementation. It discusses whether the data in a data warehouse are records, finally deciding that they are and that the records manager should have overall responsibility for the data.

Jane Loadman

2001 Records Management Journal

doi: 10.1108/EUM0000000007266

This article is based on research undertaken as part of a Masters qualification. The aim of the project was to explore the relationship between the placement of the records management function and the nature of the records management service. Using data collected by means of a questionnaire survey, the article examines and draws conclusions about the factors which impact on the way records management is carried out across organisations in different sectors and of different sizes.