Case Study: Reed, Barbara, and Frank Upward, The APB Bank: Managing Electronic Records as an Authoritative Resource (Chicago: Society of American Archivists, 1997).

Purpose: We are reading and discussing a real example of office automation within the banking industry and the need for authoritative records. The purpose of this case study is to:

· Adopt and apply some of the concepts and methods we have read about and discussed in class to a real life situation
 
· Consider and assess the options available to managers of electronic records programs

· Consider the opportunities and obstacles for records management and archival programs in establishing new relationships through collaborative projects

· To assess critically the strategies and methods proposed in the case

· What are the critical factors in managing electronic records in the office environment?

· How do we identify records and accountable transactions?

· What type of technical and management strategies will be needed to ensure that appropriate evidence is maintained about accountable transactions?

· What recordkeeping solutions can we propose for maintaining records across time?

· What role will recordkeepers play?

· Read the case study thoroughly several times so that you are familiar with the overall environment, the individuals involved and their roles, and the problems facing the institution.

· Working individually, prepare a 6-7 pp. response to the scenario listed below

· Hand in your response and present/discuss your analysis and recommendations in class on Week 10 (March 29).

The comments regarding the consultant’s report listed at the end of the case study were mostly negative. Write a follow-up memorandum to the bank’s executive committee reiterating how a well-structured recordkeeping program (which integrates policies, technologies, and practices) can assist the APB bank in its operations and what specific steps can be taken to address the shortcomings highlighted by the consultant.

Focus on the details about the bank and its operations provided in the case, on the relationships between the different organizational actors, and on the bank’s computing and recordkeeping cultures.

Important concepts to consider include corporate memory, authoritativeness, accountability, customer service, and business process analysis.

What roles and responsibilities do you see for: policy, systems design, and APB actors?