Overview of Recordkeeping and ARMA GARP®
ARMA International, a not-for-profit professional association for managing records and information, published a set of Generally Accepted Recordkeeping Principles® (GARP) that describes how business records should be maintained. It also provides a recordkeeping and information governance framework with associated metrics. The first sentence of each principle is stated below.
Principles of Accountability in Content Management Recordkeeping Principles
An organization shall assign a senior executive to appropriate individuals, adopt policies and processes to guide staff, and ensure program auditability.
Principles of Integrity in Content Management Recordkeeping Principles
An information governance program shall be constructed so that the records and information generated or managed by or for the organization have a reasonable and suitable guarantee of authenticity and reliability.
Principle of Protection
An information governance program shall be constructed to ensure a reasonable level of protection for information that is personal or that otherwise requires protection.
Principle of Compliance
An information governance program shall be constructed to comply with applicable laws and other binding authorities, as well as the organization’s policies.
Availability in Content Management Recordkeeping Principles
An organization shall maintain its information in a manner that ensures timely, efficient, and accurate retrieval of its information.
Principle of Retention
An organization shall retain its information for an appropriate time, taking into account all operational, legal, regulatory, and fiscal requirements, and those of all relevant binding authorities.
Principle of Disposition
An organization shall provide secure and appropriate disposition of information in accordance with its policies, applicable laws, regulations, and other binding authorities.
Principle of Transparency
An organization shall document its policies, processes, and activities, including its information governance program, in a manner that is available to and understood by staff and appropriate interested parties.
