“Back to the future”: electronic records management in the twenty‐first century

Abstract

Canada has tasked itself with delivering e‐government to its citizens by the year 2005 and the Canadian Government has recognized that improving the management of its information holdings is critical to successfully meeting the challenge. As Canadians become accustomed to online services from the private sector, they expect client‐centric and customized service from government and for government to use business processes that make sense when used in an electronic service delivery environment. Technology’s ability to disseminate information quickly and in large volumes, bring an increased need for transparency to e‐government. E‐government increases the need for visible accountability. This in turn, increases the need for accountability for information produced and used by government. It pushes information management from an invisible back office activity into the front lines of service delivery. This article looks at the evolving accountability for managing information within the public service, and some of the approaches the Canadian Government is taking to help address those accountabilities.