In a Presidential memorandum published by The Whitehouse this week US government departments are told that electronic filing of their records is a necessity that must happen.
Titled "We Can't Wait: President Signs Memorandum to Modernize Management of Government Records" the memorandum indicates this is a necessary step for all government agencies.
"“The current federal records management system is based on an outdated approach involving paper and filing cabinets. Today’s action will move the process into the digital age so the American public can have access to clear and accurate information about the decisions and actions of the Federal Government,” said President Obama."
Late this summer the Ontario Privacy Commissioner took a similar stand, damning paper records and endorsing electromic filing.
It is pretty clear when multiple important political figures start to press the issue that continuing to devote the time and effort to paper record keeping is a fruitless endeavour.
At what point in time will governments start mandating that important information be kept in electronic filing? Is this conceivable?
I think it is. When the arguably most powerful public figure in the world goes on record as the US President has, about how important it is both for political reasons and for efficiency to move to a properly structured and legally compliant electronic records system, the writing is on the wall.
Every business owner and organizational leader needs to move the design and implementation of proper record systems up their priority ladder before someone puts a directive in front of them.
Where do you store your business records? Could you respond to a 120 day directive if it was targeted at you? Is the President right to push this agenda so aggressively?
I think so....share your thoughts.
Lee K
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons
