Big Buckets or Big Ideas? Classification vs. Innovation on the Enterprise 2.0 Desktop (2008)

A study by Patricia Galloway, PhD, CDP

Funded by the Foundation with additional funds provided by the Mile High Denver Chapter of ARMA International

Abstract
The recent interest fostered by the U.S. National Archives in using so-called “big buckets”as a feature of their Flexible Scheduling scheme indicates some hope for a solution to classifying routinized work product not scheduled as permanent. Given that some records managers are looking toward adopting the practice for all records, however, it may prove to be in conflict with current research in information science on the work practices of knowledge workers, especially those whose work implicitly includes problem-solving and innovation. Conceived in another way, however, the “flexibility” provided by the concept may open the door to an application of “Enterprise 2.0” classificatory practices. This is of particular import since electronic record creation is already being supported by software systems designed to optimize flexibility for employee work practices.