Knowledge and skills requirements for a records manager in Botswana in the networked environment

Abstract

The 21st century is synonymous with the use of sophisticated technologies such as information and communication technologies (ICTs). Their deployment to deliver public services has become a norm because they offer real-time benefits. The resultant electronic records generated through various information systems in the realm of e-government have to be managed by personnel with the right knowledge and skills. It is now appreciated by the archives and records management community that digital records management is a difficult task in comparison to paper records management. If due care is not exercised, they are easy to be tampered with, altered or even deleted. For the records to be acceptable as evidence of business transactions, they should remain available, usable, understandable and authentic for as long as they are needed by the creating organisation. The study was qualitative in nature and collected data from available literature on which content analysis was undertaken to address the research problem. It revealed that the legislative framework for digital records management is available, although it is not supported by operational guidelines to fully support the e-government agenda, specifically when it comes managing resultant digital records. It also found that archives and records management professionals are ill equipped to manage digital records. It recommends capacity building to enable them to acquire skills required to manage records in the networked environment. It also recommends collaboration between higher education institutions offering archival education to work with Botswana National Archives and Records Services to ensure that the education sector produces professionals fit for the market.