Published: July 12, 2017 by Anna Maloney

A comparison of ARMA International’s guide on domains of practice and professional competency to MARA program competencies.

In 2017, ARMA International published the second edition of Records and Information Management Core Competencies, a comprehensive guide that describes six domains, or areas of practice, for RIM practitioners and details four levels of professional competency for each area. The following summarizes each domain and maps them to MARA competencies and courses. 

• Business functions. “This domain pertains to the knowledge and skills necessary to administer, implement, or maintain the non-RIM-specific functions an organization performs, or needs to perform, to achieve its objectives.”
  • MARA Competency B. Recognize the social, cultural, and economic dimensions of records, recordkeeping, and records use.
    • MARA 200: The Record and Recordkeeping Professions
  • MARA Competency F. Apply fundamental management theories and principles to the administration of records and recordkeeping organizations.
    • MARA 204: Management of Records and Archival Institutions
• RIM/IG practices. “This domain pertains to the knowledge and skills required to systematically manage information assets from creation or receipt through processing, distributing, sharing, using, accessing, organizing, storing and retrieving, and disposing of them.”
  • MARA Competency C. Understand the evolution of information recordkeeping systems in response to technological change.
    • MARA 210: Records Creation, Appraisal and Retention
    • MARA 211: Records Access, Storage and Retrieval
    • MARA 249: Electronic Recordkeeping Systems and Issues in Electronic Recordkeeping
  • MARA Competency D. Have expertise in the basic concepts and principles used to identify, evaluate, select, organize, maintain, and provide access to records of current or enduring value.
    • MARA 204: Management of Records and Archival Institutions
    • MARA 210: Records Creation, Appraisal and Retention
    • MARA 211: Records Access, Storage and Retrieval
    • MARA 249: Electronic Recordkeeping Systems and Issues in Electronic Recordkeeping
    • MARA 283: Enterprise Content Management & Digital Preservation
    • MARA 284: Information Assurance
    • MARA 284: Information Governance
  • MARA Competency G. Know the legal requirements and ethical principles involved in records management and the role the recordkeeper plays in institutional compliance and risk management.
    • MARA 284: Ethics for Archivists and Records and Information Management Professionals
    • MARA 284: Information Assurance
    • MARA 284: Information Governance
• Risk management. “This domain pertains to the knowledge and skills necessary to proactively mitigate and manage the potential for damage, loss, or unauthorized access to information assets.”
  • MARA Competency G. Know the legal requirements and ethical principles involved in records management and the role the recordkeeper plays in institutional compliance and risk management.
    • MARA 284: Information Assurance
    • MARA 284: Information Governance
• Communications and marketing. “This domain pertains to the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively exchange thoughts, messages, or information by speech, writing, or behavior and to effectively champion benefits of a RIM program within an organization or to external stakeholders.”
  • MARA Competency A. Articulate the ethics, values, and foundational principles of archives and records management professionals and appreciate the important role recordkeepers play in social memory and organizational accountability.
    • MARA 200: The Record and Recordkeeping Professions
    • MARA 284: Advocacy & the Professional Image of Archivists and Archives in Popular Culture
    • MARA 284: Ethics for Archivists and Records and Information Management Professionals
  • MARA Competency I. Understand research design and research methods and possess the analytical, written, and oral communication skills to synthesize and disseminate research findings.
    • MARA 285: Research Methods for Records Managers and Archivists
• Information technology. “This domain pertains to the knowledge and skills necessary to develop, maintain, and use information processing system, software applications, and supporting hardware and networks used for processing data, distributing data, and protecting electronic and physical information assets at all times in any state.”
  • MARA Competency C. Understand the evolution of information recordkeeping systems in response to technological change.
    • MARA 249: Electronic Recordkeeping Systems and Issues in Electronic Recordkeeping
  • MARA Competency E. Understand the systems of standards and structures endorsed and utilized by the recordkeeping professions, particularly in the areas of electronic records and digital assets management.
    • MARA 210: Records Creation, Appraisal and Retention
    • MARA 211: Records Access, Storage and Retrieval
    • MARA 249: Electronic Recordkeeping Systems and Issues in Electronic Recordkeeping
    • MARA 283: Enterprise Content Management and Digital Preservation
    • MARA 284: Information Assurance
    • MARA 284: Information Governance
  • MARA Competency H. Be conversant with current information technologies and best practices relating to records preservation and security.
    • MARA 283: Enterprise Content Management and Digital Preservation
    • MARA 284: Information Assurance
    • MARA 284: Information Governance
    • MARA 284: Digital Forensics for Archivists: An Introduction
• Leadership. “This domain pertains to the knowledge and skills necessary to increase RIM awareness and motivate groups of people toward the achievement of RIM program goals within the context of the organization’s overall goals.”
  • MARA Competency A. Articulate the ethics, values, and foundational principles of archives and records management professionals and appreciate the important role recordkeepers play in social memory and organizational accountability.
    • MARA 200: The Record and Recordkeeping Professions
    • MARA Competency F. Apply fundamental management theories and principles to the administration of records and recordkeeping organizations.
    • MARA 204: Management of Records and Archival Institutions

Quoted material sourced from: 

ARMA International. (2017). Records and information management core competencies. Overland Park, KS: ARMA International.