Institute of Certified Records Managers
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In today's evolving knowledge economies, the convergence of IM domains indicates the need for a greater integration of management disciplines that build the capacity of business to achieve desired outcomes. Among disciplines such as Financial and Human Resource Management, Information Technololgy and Business Administration, the field of Records Management (increasingly recognized as Recorded Information Management) is often overlooked.
The RIM domain is all about managing recorded information resources, regardless of media, in accord with their identified value to business process. Both the asset and liability characteristics of records are considered through analysis of a set of defined values. This analysis grounds considerations such as retention planing; business continuity; access provisions; procurement and use of space, equipment and supplies; media conversion; as well matters such as strategic use of information resources, compliance with international and local standards (Sarbanes Oxley, Basel II, ISO 15489, and the ISO 9000 series, etc.). Depending on the organizational environment, it may extend into intellectual property management, knowledge resource development and intellectual capital assessment.
The Institute of Certified Records Managers (ICRM) is the international certifying body for the RIM domain generally, and for the Nuclear Information and Records Management Association (NIRMA) and ARMA International, the largest association of records managers and administrators.
Certified Records Managers (CRM) undergo testing in a range of management and domain specific knowledge before writing a final examination in which knowledge is applied in case studies. Certification requires successful completion of the six part examination within a five year period. Thereafter, CRMs must maintain certification by demonstrating continuous learning through participation in a range of activities. The examination outline is available at the ICRM Website.
CRMs come from a broad range of backgrounds and many hold multiple certifications and degrees. All share an interest in managing recorded information resources in accord with business interests and within the ICRM Code of Ethics. Therefore, it is common that CRMs may specialize in aspects of the records management field (e.g. highly regulated industries, law, education, etc. or electronic records, cartographics, etc.) or may integrate their domain knowledge into other leadership roles (CEO, CIO, CKO, Archivist, Records Manager or similar role) in public, private and non-profit sectors.
The ICRM administers the examinations independently and has no educational component that might taint the objectivity of the process.
[edit] History
The ICRM originated through a merger of two earlier associations: the American Executives and Administrators Managers and another organization focused on records and administration. Knowledgeable readers are invited to edit this page and provide the correct name. Add to the history of ICRM leaders below. Board of Regents.
Presidents
Linda J. Cusimano, CRM (Current President, since 2004)
John James O'Brien, CRM (2002-2004)
John James O'Brien is a Canadian citizen born in Hartford, Connecticut. He attended British Columbia's Shawnigan Lake School. He worked in heritage interpretation and conservation before completing a degree in Slavonic Studies at the University of Victoria, Canada. As a systems analyst in a six person team established out of the Provincial Archives of British Columbia, Mr. O'Brien integrated taxonomy and information management concepts to develop the Canadian ARCS/ORCS classification system. He has expanded upon the use of metadata for risk management concurrent with learning communities of practice. He was a founding member of the Information & Records Management Association of Victoria and the ICRM's first Canadian President. Mr. O'Brien's contributions included the restrucurting of the Certification Maintenance Program and development of the ICRM's first online portal to improve servicces to members and relieve Regents from burdensome workloads. He achieved a Master's Degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University. From 2002-2005, he served as Principal Archivist and Director, the Government Records Service, Hong Kong SAR, and elected to remain in Asia in 2006 to establish IRM Strategies, a boutique consultancy focused on Knowledge Resource Development (people + information). He is partnered and has one daughter.
Kathleen Glascow Sparks, CRM (2000-2002)
Donald, Schewe, CRM (1996-2000)
Donald B. Schewe was born in Cleveland, Ohio and raised in Nebraska. After graduating from the university of Nebraska and two years' service in the United States Army, he returned to the University of Nebraska for a Master's degree. His Ph.D. in history is from the Ohio State University. Following training at the National Archives in Washington, he joined the staff of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library in Hyde Park, New York, as an archivist in 1972. In 1978 he became Assistant Director of the Roosevelt Library, and in 1981 moved to Atlanta to head the Carter Library Project. Dr. Schewe is married and has two daughters.
