Focus On Research from the ARMA International Educational Foundation:

RIM Checklist for Mergers, Acquisitions, Divestitures, and Closures,

a Study by John T. Phillips, CRM, FAI

    Most RIM professionals who work for large corporations will need to deal with at least one merger, acquisition, or other large-scale change in status during their careers; many will be faced with this situation repeatedly.  Too often, records considerations are not adequately addressed (if at all) during the planning or execution of these business transactions.  Only afterwards, when an investigation, audit, or search inevitably brings to light this oversight will the records manager – and the attorneys – be left to deal with the mess.

    The need for a standardized and proactive approach for managing the records issues associated with mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures was well known.  As is too often true, however, many of us waited for an educational institution or consulting firm to publish something in the literature on this topic that we could use for an authoritative reference.

        The ARMA International Educational Foundation (AIEF) recognized the need for this information, coordinated obtaining the resources to perform and fund the research, and took the necessary steps to get it done in 2005.  John Phillips, a well-respected and frequent contributor on RIM topics offered to do the work and the Twin Cities chapter of ARMA International underwrote 50% of the project's costs.  The remainder was funded by donations from individual donors.

    The results provide an excellent discussion on the issues and challenges associated with these transactions, recommendations on how RIM professionals can (and should) be included in the planning, due diligence, analysis, and implementation phases, as well as the resources required to be successful.  There are two detailed checklists included: one for the RIM program elements and one for the specific records affected.  It is an invaluable RIM resource and a crucial element in the RIM toolbox.

The ARMA International Educational Foundation is a funding resource for research and scholarship in the field of records and information management. This is only one of many research projects on records management issues that have been addressed by the AIEF.  All AIEF research is available for download free from its website. 

One of the most important sources for AIEF funds is the donations received from ARMA chapters and chapter members.  For more information, visit the foundation’s website at http://armaedfoundation.org/