of Ethics Online Collection:1975
THE CODE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Preamble
Information and records management is that field within the
information profession responsible for managing the creation,
use, maintenance, and disposition of records generated in
the normal functioning of all types of organizations.
ARMA International is a not-for-profit organization representing
professionals in the field of information and records management.
Its primary purpose is the advancement of records and information
management through education and professional development.
Purposes of the Code
This code is intended to increase the awareness of ethical
issues among information and records management practitioners
and to guide them in reflection, decision making, and action
in two broad areas of ethical concern: society and the profession.
I: The Social Principles
Because of their responsibilities to society, information
and records managers:
1. Support the free flow and oppose censorship of publicly
available information as a necessary condition for an informed
and educated society.
2. Support the creation, maintenance, and use of accurate
information and support the development of information management
systems which place the highest priority on accuracy and integrity.
3. Condemn and resist the unethical or immoral use or concealment
of information.
4. Affirm that the collection, maintenance, distribution,
and use of information about individuals is a privilege in
trust: the right to privacy of all individuals must be both
promoted and upheld.
5. Support compliance with statues and regulations related
to recorded information.
II. The Professional Principles
Because of their responsibilities to their employers or clients
as well as to their profession, information and records managers:
1. Pursue appropriate educational requirements for professional
practice, including a program of ongoing education and certification.
2. Accurately represent their education, competencies, certifications,
and experience to superiors, clients, co-workers and colleagues
in the profession.
3. Serve the client or employer at the highest level of professional
competence.
4. Recognize illegal or unethical situations and inform the
client or employer of possible adverse implications.
5. Avoid personal interest or improper gain at the expense
of clients, employers, or co-workers.
6. Maintain the confidentiality of privileged information.
7. Enrich the profession by sharing knowledge and experience,
encourage public discussion of the profession's values, services,
and skills.
8. Are actively committed to recruiting individuals to the
profession on the basis of competence and educational qualifications
without discrimination.
THE CODE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY
CLARIFICATIONS AND EXEMPLIFICATION'S
Preamble
Information and records management is that field within the
information profession responsible for managing the creation,
use, maintenance, and disposition of records generated in
the normal functioning of all types of organizations.
ARMA International is a not-for-profit organization representing
professionals in the field of information and records management.
Its primary purpose is the advancement of information and
records management through education and professional development.
Purposes of the Code
This code is intended to increase the awareness of ethical
issues among information and records management practitioners
and to guide them in reflection, decision making, and action
in two broad areas of ethical concern: society and the profession.
I: The Social Principles
Because of their responsibilities to society, information
and records managers:
1. Support the free flow of information and oppose the censorship
of publicly available information as a necessary condition
for an informed and educated society.
Any government or public organization operating behind
closed doors or restricting access to public information is
a government or an organization which does not operate in
accordance with democratic principles. Information and records
management professionals understand that information and knowledge
are the lifeblood of a free society, Therefore, they support
the broadest possible access to public information
2. Support the creation, maintenance, and use of accurate
information and support the development of information management
systems which place the highest priority on accuracy and integrity.
The flawed creation, maintenance, or application of information
can harm individuals or organizations in many ways. Information
and records managers recognize that information has a life
cycle and can be Altered or misinterpreted at every stage
of that cycle. Therefore, information and records managers
undertake analyses and make recommendations regarding the
appropriate creation, storage, dissemination, and use of information
to insure its integrity.
3. Condemn and resist the unethical or immoral use or
concealment of information.
Properly used, information is a powerful tool, one which
can save lives, overthrow corrupt governments. or explore
the universe. On the other hand, improper, illegal, unethical,
or immoral use or concealment of information can wreck carom.
cost lives, or destroy organizations. The information professional
acts to prevent improper uses of information and refuses to
affiliate with individuals or organizations that permit or
promote such activity.
4. Affirm that the collection, maintenance, distribution,
and use of information about individuals is a privilege in
trust: the right to privacy of all individuals must be both
promoted and upheld.
The right to privacy is a value respected by free people
everywhere. Information and records managers strive to protect
the individual's privacy while, often at the same time, having
to reconcile that right with the right of access to information
by others. Pie information and records manager must insure
that effective policies, systems, and technologies am in place
to protect information about individuals front unauthorized
disclosure.
5. Support compliance with statues and regulations related
to recorded information.
An Information management program must act first in accord
with the law. Otherwise, there is no proper foundation for
decisions made about the creation, use storage, or disposition
of recorded information. Information and records managers
must, therefore, have current knowledge of all statues and
regulatory requirements having any bearing on recorded information
under their jurisdiction. This knowledge is the starting point
upon which the information and records manager's ethical foundations
are built
II: The Professional Principles
Because of their responsibilities to their employers
or clients as well as to their profession, information and
records managers:
I Pursue appropriate educational requirements for professional
practice, including a program of ongoing education and certification.
Appropriate formal and continuing education is critical
to enlarging one's knowledge and maintaining one's competence
in any field. Because information and records management continues
to be transformed legally and technologically, all information
and records managers have a responsibility to attain a level
of education necessary to maintain and improve their positions
within their organization and the profession. Education in
information and records management must continue throughout
an individual's career, whether through degree programs, formal
academic coursework, certification, workshops, seminars, and/or
conferences sponsored by associations within the information
management discipline.
2. Represent accurately their education, competencies,
certifications, and experience to superiors, clients, co-workers
and colleagues in the profession.
Misrepresentation of one's credentials is usually grounds
for dismissal. Exaggeration of one's accomplishments or abilities
is equally odious, is unethical, and is not to be tolerated.
3. Service the client or employer at the highest level
of professional competence.
Using effective information and records management principles
and practices, die professional provides service at the highest
level of competence. One factor differentiating a professional
from other employees of an organization is that a professional
is able to separate professional responsibility and judgment
from personal feelings and loyalty. This serves the employees
or clients best long-term interests. Anything few demeans
die practitioner and, by extension. the profession.
4. Recognize illegal or unethical situations and inform
the client or employer of possible adverse implications.
The knowledge and values of information professionals
uniquely qualify them to recognize the ingredients of ethically
complex issues related to information and records management.
The information and records manager pursues a reflective morality,
not one limited by custom, tradition, or the moral terrain
of a specific work environment. The professional has a responsibility
to inform the employer or client that a given decision, action,
policy, or procedure may have negative implications- The information
and records manager may decide to disassociate from a client
or employer who continues to pursue such a course.
5. Avoid personal interest or improper gain at the expense
of clients, employers, colleagues, or co-workers.
Improper or illegal use of information for personal gain
can take many forms. Information and records managers routinely
access information during the course of their work. The information
and records manager must be careful never to use or to disclose
such information in a manner which will knowingly bring, or
have the appearance of bringing, gain at the expense of one's
employer, client, colleagues or co-workers. Also, conflicts
of interest may arise which influence the decision making
process. In such cases, the information and records manager
must be aware of such conflicts when recommending appropriate
solutions to information and records management problems.
6. Maintain the confidentiality of privileged information
Every organization has privileged information This may
include information classified for national defense purposes
or information restricted for proprietary or privacy reasons.
The information and records manager has the expertise and
experience to evaluate, recommend, and oversee systems, procedures,
and equipment which maintain the integrity of this information-regardless
of media-against unauthorized access.
7. Enrich the profession by sharing knowledge and experience,
encourage public discussion of the profession's values, services,
and skills.
The degree of professional status of any field is directly
related to society's knowledge and appreciation of that field's
work. Along with published research, the exchange of ideas
and knowledge enriches the profession. Not every individual
has the ability to stand before a crowd and speak effectively
on information and records management. Every individual does,
however, have the ability to communicate experiences, lessons
learned, knowledge, and values. Practitioners should take
whatever public education opportunities present themselves
to portray the achievements and benefits of information and
records. management in an accurate, engaging, and informative
manner.
8. Commit to actively recruit individuals to the profession
on the basis of competence and educational qualifications
without discrimination.
In some organizations, nepotism or patronage may affect
hiring decisions; in others, discrimination on the basis of
sex, race, age, physical limitation, national origin or cultural
heritage, appearance, sexual orientation, or religion may
take place. Information and records managers, however, should
distance themselves from such practices and ad to hire and
promote individuals solely on the bases of education, competence,
and performance
