Electronic records management simply implies automation of records management processes and procedures. This is denoted in the darkest box at the lower right of the figure above. Terminology Shared terminology, scope, and framework are fundamental to our understanding of electronic records issues. This is especially true when more than one profession, each with its own vocabulary and point of view, must work collectively to solve the challenges electronic records present. The focus of this particular set of Fast Track products concerns electronic recordkeeping concepts that need to be understood in the larger context of records management, electronic records management, and other aspects of information technology.
Information technology uses the word record to describe a particular set of information.
In this data processing context, records are composed of fields of information, and a collection of such fielded records comprises an electronic file. The Fast Track documents, however, use the term record as described in the above definition per the Federal Records Act . Metadata Metadata is a term that describes or specifies characteristics that need to be known about data in order to build information resources such as electronic recordkeeping systems and support records creators and users. Electronic records management is the broadest term that refers to electronically managing records on varied formats, be they electronic, paper, microform, etc. These automated processes support not only the preservation of an electronic record's content, but also its context and structure over time.