Towards a theoretical construct for records management

Records managers often complain that records management is undervalued, suffers from the influence of irrelevant traditional concepts, and is therefore theoretically flawed. The findings of several surveys attest to this situation, but do not explain the many reasons that contribute to the lack of understanding and acceptance of records management as a separate discipline. For any field or discipline to be accepted, it must possess a strong foundation in theory. This article will examine whether there is an accepted body of theory underlying records management methods and practices. An attempt is made to develop a conceptual model that the authors believe records managers need in order to explain the present “state of the art” of the discipline and justify their contribution to the management of organisations.