Late last year, President Barack Obama tasked federal agency executives with reviewing their organizations' records management practices and updating protocols to embrace emerging digital innovations. As agencies navigate the early stages of the proposed timetable, a number of common challenges have been revealed.
In accordance with the presidential memorandum, federal agencies are required to submit a report to the Office of Management and Budget detailing how they will respond to the rise of electronic records, social media and cloud-based services. Considering the massive volumes of content managed within these organizations, it is no surprise that timely progress has been an elusive goal for some.
In a recent interview with CMSWire, technology consultant Mike Miller explained that agencies are coming to realize the distinction between managing records and simply retaining them. Additionally, some are calling into question the feasibility of the initiative.
Although overhauls at agencies like the National Archives and Records Administration have been discussed for some time, a number of previous initiatives have stalled. For things to be different this time around, Miller suggests that public awareness and support for digital content management could help cut through bureaucratic stalemates.
