Electronic Records Management Online Group Launches

AIIM, the enterprise content management association, has created a new online community around Enterprise Records Management, or ERM. The "ERM Community," available online at, currently contains blogs by 16 industry experts, 150+ wiki pages, and a discussion forum.

The industry practitioners on the blog roster include Susan Goodman, SVP, enterprise digital records program, Bank of America; Russ Stalters, head of information and records architecture for BP; Jayne Bellyk, RIM Program Manager at Chevron Phillips; and Roger Poole, global head of records management, Barclays Capital. Other contributors come from technology providers, consultancies, and various government and business entities.

"The risks of information mismanagement are on the rise," states Atle Skjekkeland, Vice President of AIIM, in a press release. "Because of an increased need to retrieve information on demand, control access and confidentiality, and ensure secure retention and destruction, Electronic Records Management is a critical business necessity."

As a business practice, ERM transcends the roles and responsibilities of traditional records managers, having a direct impact on the jobs of IT professionals, senior managers, lawyers and general employees, according to the site.

AIIM research indicates that 37 percent of organizations, and 43 percent of organizations with 5,000 or more employees, are not confident that their electronic records would stand up in court. Furthermore, nearly 50 percent of staff say that electronic documents and e-mails remain unmanaged because of a lack of policies, guidelines, and enforcement.

In addition to the ERM Community, AIIM also maintains a community focused on Enterprise 2.0 for improving collaboration and content sharing. Upcoming communities are planned for Capture/Scanning, Document Management, and Web Content Management.

AIIM, the Association for Information and Image Management, provides its 65,000 members with market education, professional development, peer networking, and industry advocacy. Within its membership, AIIM has a strong presence in banking, insurance and investments, and in federal, state and local government.