Service-oriented architectures and recordkeeping

This paper aims to outline the concepts of web services architectures and to begin an exploration of the uses that recordkeeping professionals may define for such a potentially radical change to the way recordkeeping functionality is delivered. The paper combines narrative with argument and analysis of the issues surrounding records management. The paper shows that the digital world has introduced new challenges to recordkeeping professionals. The initial response has been to transfer traditional recordkeeping systems to automated solutions. Increasingly these are being challenged for fit in dynamic organizational environments. Web services as a building block for next generation software applications are growing in acceptance both in governments and innovative product offerings. Recordkeeping professionals should ensure that they are very firmly grounded in best professional practice in recordkeeping to grasp such a technology opportunity.