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For some years North American archivists have argued that public archival repositories are unable to bear the burden of preserving the records of modern business corporations and have suggested that firms should shoulder this burden themselves by establishing corporate archives. This suggestion, however, fails to address the issue of preserving the records of small businesses, and the records of defunct firms, that are unable to support a corporate archives. Before one can predict the effect the advocates of corporate archives will have on the preservation of business records, one needs to know what degree of responsibility repositories have accepted for preserving business records. Unfortunately, little information has been published concerning the business records holdings of Canadian archival institutions. A questionnaire asking for information on acquisitions policies and strategies, and on the characteristics of business records collections, was therefore sent to federal, provincial, municipal, and university archives. The business records holdings of the Public Archives of Canada, the Provincial Archives of British Columbia, the City of Vancouver Archives, and the Special Collections Division of the University of British Columbia Library were examined in detail to augment the information obtained from questionnaire returns. The value of the business records collections held by Canadian repositories was further examined by means of a reference analysis of journal articles and monographs, published by economic and business historians, which measured the use made of business records collections by these historians. Although some substantial collections of business records have been preserved, it appears that over three quarters of the business records collections preserved by Canadian repositores are so small and fragmentary in nature that they are of dubious value to researchers. This impression is borne out by the sparse use of business records as sources by business and economic historians. The experiences of European and American archival institutions indicate that Canadian repositories will have to accumulate a significant body of business records collections before they will see increased use of their business records holdings. Repositories cannot reasonably be expected to devote their limited resources to collecting the records of large integrated corporations. Nonetheless, archival institutions have a responsibility to ensure the preservation of records documenting the Canadian economy. Archival institutions, and the archivists they employ, should continue their efforts to persuade companies to set up corporate archives. Many firms, however, are unwilling or unable to take such a step. Canadian repositories must therefore continue to acquire business records if they wish to fulfil their mandates of preserving comprehensive collections documenting the various aspects of the history of their respective regions. This must be done in an active and systematic manner, using such strategies as public relations programs and the provision to firms of assistance in scheduling records. By persuading larger corporations to set up corporate archives whilst systematically collecting the records of smaller firms, archival institutions can improve both the quantity and quality of business records preserved. / Arts, Faculty of / Library, Archival and Information Studies (SLAIS), School of / Graduate

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M.A. / Information plays a very significant role in the economic development of the enterprises. It is increasingly used as a corporate resource to improve productivity, efficiency and effectiveness. This means that information in the form of records, is a strategic weapon to gain competitive advantage for the enterprise that creates and receives them. The study explores the problems that are facing terminology in the study of information management and records management. The problems that exist in terms of terminology are so intense that there is yet no universally acceptable definition for records and records management. The basic elements of records management are explored in attempt to position records management as an information management function. It demands records as vital information resources be managed throughout their life cycles, at a strategic level in much the same way as other economic resources such as people, money and land. In managing records effectively, the education and training of records managers is regarded as imperative. In order to test the information management function of records management, a survey is administered within Enterprise ABC to observe the records management practices amongst the records staff. The findings of the survey reveal that the records management practices within Enterprise ABC are chaotic in the sense that there are no standards and procedures that govern the flow of records within the enterprise.

This thesis attempts to identify the reasons why business archives have not been widely developed in North America and to suggest the changes which are necessary to correct the situation. Although this study addresses itself specifically to the experience of business archives, many of the issues it discusses can easily be related to other forms of corporate archives such as those, for example, of a municipality, university, labour union, or hospital. All corporate archives confront the common problem that the practical value of an archival programme must be clearly demonstrated. This usually involves justification based primarily on administrative rather than cultural criteria. Therefore, this study aims overall to place business archives within a broader discussion of the purposes which archives ought to serve in our community. The underlying theme of this thesis is the need to formulate a more comprehensive view of the role of archives than has been evident in the past, one which is sufficiently flexible to respond to the changing and diverse requirements of modern society. This requires that the archivist accept a broader role than he accepted in the past, when he often served as a passive custodian patiently awaiting the arrival of "retired" documents. An analysis of the development of business archives illustrates that a strictly historical criterion for maintaining records has met with only limited success in the corporate community. Rather than attempting to convince businessmen as to the cultural benefits (important as they are) to be derived from the establishment of an archival programme, it might be more prudent to emphasize new potential services which could be rendered to the sponsoring agencies. In exploring this proposition the thesis first considers the elements influencing the historical growth of business archives and then suggests potential new areas into which corporate archivists might move. The study also discusses the ramifications of these changes for issues such as appraisal and access and, finally, identifies those factors which will be particularly important in determining the future success of business archives. In assuming such a broad approach to the study of corporate archives, the thesis raises some fundamental questions about the orientation of the archival profession and, as such, may contribute to the formulation of archival theory. / Arts, Faculty of / Library, Archival and Information Studies (SLAIS), School of / Graduate

Why and how much should we invest in this information technology (IT)? The difficulty to formulate well-justified, convincing answers to those questions asked by corporate decision-makers has been identified as a major impediment to one rapid adoption of IT innovations by the business community. This study investigates the fundamental construct underlying these questions by performing a formal assessment of the business value of financial electronic data interchange (EDI) technology for corporate adopters in Canada. Three major Canadian financial institutions, seven cross-industry financial EDI user organizations (originators and receivers), several reference firms and more than fifty individuals actively participated in this study which follows a triangulation data collection approach. Within a cohesive financial EDI value measurement framework based on the theory of capital budgeting, a set of realistic and flexible models for measuring the business value of financial EDI was developed from a rigorous, item-by-item analysis of the data. Following a scenario-based approach, the data and models were used to estimate the magnitude of potential net benefits of financial EDI to corporate adopters. A formal evaluation of the expected and actual costs and benefits of financial EDI to participating user firms was conducted using the models. Several major conclusions were drawn from this in-depth study of financial EDI investments including, among others, the substantiated observation that from a payment process perspective, financial EDI is potentially more beneficial to corporate receivers than originators. Compared to non-financial EDI applications, potential economic gains from reduced payment cycles accrue primarily to the supplier community, rather than the initiators of financial EDI systems. Major contributions of this study include first, the development of a theory-based value measurement framework, and second, the presentation and application of a structured, iterative methodology for the evaluation of financial EDI investments. The proposed financial EDI cost/benefit models also offer a useful, practical set of tools to potential and actual user firms in evaluating the organizational value of future or current financial EDI programs. Finally, the study is also intended to assist Canadian financial institutions in their financial EDI diffusion effort.

Why and how much should we invest in this information technology (IT)? The difficulty to formulate well-justified, convincing answers to those questions asked by corporate decision-makers has been identified as a major impediment to one rapid adoption of IT innovations by the business community. This study investigates the fundamental construct underlying these questions by performing a formal assessment of the business value of financial electronic data interchange (EDI) technology for corporate adopters in Canada. Three major Canadian financial institutions, seven cross-industry financial EDI user organizations (originators and receivers), several reference firms and more than fifty individuals actively participated in this study which follows a triangulation data collection approach. Within a cohesive financial EDI value measurement framework based on the theory of capital budgeting, a set of realistic and flexible models for measuring the business value of financial EDI was developed from a rigorous, item-by-item analysis of the data. Following a scenario-based approach, the data and models were used to estimate the magnitude of potential net benefits of financial EDI to corporate adopters. A formal evaluation of the expected and actual costs and benefits of financial EDI to participating user firms was conducted using the models. Several major conclusions were drawn from this in-depth study of financial EDI investments including, among others, the substantiated observation that from a payment process perspective, financial EDI is potentially more beneficial to corporate receivers than originators. Compared to non-financial EDI applications, potential economic gains from reduced payment cycles accrue primarily to the supplier community, rather than the initiators of financial EDI systems. Major contributions of this study include first, the development of a theory-based value measurement framework, and second, the presentation and application of a structured, iterative methodology for the evaluation of financial EDI investments. The proposed financial EDI cost/benefit models also offer a useful, practical set of tools to potential and actual user firms in evaluating the organizational value of future or current financial EDI programs. Finally, the study is also intended to assist Canadian financial institutions in their financial EDI diffusion effort. / Business, Sauder School of / Graduate

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<p>This examination paper is an account for the author’s work to arrange and registrate the business archive and business records of court jeweller W. A. Bolin AB from 1916 until present day, and a part of the one-year Masters Programme in Archival Science at the University of Uppsala. Problems that have been encountered are treated, as well as motivations of the decisions made during the process. The author also discusses the lack of literature on the subject of business records and business archives.</p>

This examination paper is an account for the author’s work to arrange and registrate the business archive and business records of court jeweller W. A. Bolin AB from 1916 until present day, and a part of the one-year Masters Programme in Archival Science at the University of Uppsala. Problems that have been encountered are treated, as well as motivations of the decisions made during the process. The author also discusses the lack of literature on the subject of business records and business archives.