Barriers to Electronic Records Management

Corporate and government organizations can use electronic records as an important strategic resource, if the records are managed properly. In addition to meeting legal requirements, electronic records can play a vital role in the management and operation of an organization's activities. Corporate America is facing challenges in managing electronic records, and so too is the U.S. Air Force (USAF). The deployed environment is particularly problematic for electronic records management (ERM). This research, thus, investigates ERM in the deployed environment to identify and characterize the barriers faced by USAF personnel who deployed to locations supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. This investigation was conducted through a qualitative approach, drawing much of its rich data from in-depth interviews. An exploratory case study was designed using a socio-technical framework and inductive analysis was used to proceed from particular facts to general conclusions. The analysis revealed 15 barriers to ERM. All 15 barriers were determined to exist throughout the entire records lifecycle and were categorized based on common overarching themes. This research reveals some unique barriers contained within the context of a deployed location, while also showing that the barriers are similar to known ERM challenges.