Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report on the application of information culture analysis techniques in the workplace. The paper suggests that records managers should use ethnographic sensitivity, if they want to have a constructive dialogue with records creators and users, and effect positive change in their organisations. Design/methodology/approach: Two pilot studies were conducted in university settings for the purpose of testing an information culture assessment toolkit. The university records managers who carried out the investigation approached the fieldwork ethnographically, in the sense that they were interested in the perspectives of their end users, and tried to understand their information cultures, rather than imposing their recordkeeping concepts and procedures. Findings: Information culture analysis was of practical utility in large complex organisations, providing an insight into behaviours, motivations, and most importantly promoted reflection and dialogue among organisational actors. Originality/value: The paper raises awareness of the diversity of professional skills and knowledge required by records practitioners. It emphasises that to remain relevant to their organisations, records managers have to be receptive and sensitive to cultural influences.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 175-186 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Records Management Journal |
| Volume | 28 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 16 Jul 2018 |
Keywords
- Ethnography
- Information culture
- Universities
Cite this
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Ethnographic sensitivity and current recordkeeping : Applying information culture analysis in the workplace. / Oliver, Gillian; Foscarini, Fiorella; Sinclair, Craigie; Nicholls, Catherine; Loriente, Lydia.
In: Records Management Journal, Vol. 28, No. 2, 16.07.2018, p. 175-186.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Ethnographic sensitivity and current recordkeeping
T2 - Applying information culture analysis in the workplace
AU - Oliver, Gillian
AU - Foscarini, Fiorella
AU - Sinclair, Craigie
AU - Nicholls, Catherine
AU - Loriente, Lydia
PY - 2018/7/16
Y1 - 2018/7/16
N2 - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report on the application of information culture analysis techniques in the workplace. The paper suggests that records managers should use ethnographic sensitivity, if they want to have a constructive dialogue with records creators and users, and effect positive change in their organisations. Design/methodology/approach: Two pilot studies were conducted in university settings for the purpose of testing an information culture assessment toolkit. The university records managers who carried out the investigation approached the fieldwork ethnographically, in the sense that they were interested in the perspectives of their end users, and tried to understand their information cultures, rather than imposing their recordkeeping concepts and procedures. Findings: Information culture analysis was of practical utility in large complex organisations, providing an insight into behaviours, motivations, and most importantly promoted reflection and dialogue among organisational actors. Originality/value: The paper raises awareness of the diversity of professional skills and knowledge required by records practitioners. It emphasises that to remain relevant to their organisations, records managers have to be receptive and sensitive to cultural influences.
AB - Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to report on the application of information culture analysis techniques in the workplace. The paper suggests that records managers should use ethnographic sensitivity, if they want to have a constructive dialogue with records creators and users, and effect positive change in their organisations. Design/methodology/approach: Two pilot studies were conducted in university settings for the purpose of testing an information culture assessment toolkit. The university records managers who carried out the investigation approached the fieldwork ethnographically, in the sense that they were interested in the perspectives of their end users, and tried to understand their information cultures, rather than imposing their recordkeeping concepts and procedures. Findings: Information culture analysis was of practical utility in large complex organisations, providing an insight into behaviours, motivations, and most importantly promoted reflection and dialogue among organisational actors. Originality/value: The paper raises awareness of the diversity of professional skills and knowledge required by records practitioners. It emphasises that to remain relevant to their organisations, records managers have to be receptive and sensitive to cultural influences.
KW - Ethnography
KW - Information culture
KW - Universities
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85050944573&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/RMJ-08-2017-0021
DO - 10.1108/RMJ-08-2017-0021
M3 - Article
VL - 28
SP - 175
EP - 186
JO - Records Management Journal
JF - Records Management Journal
SN - 0956-5698
IS - 2
ER -