Purpose This paper aims to present findings from research undertaken in Australian construction companies that describes some issues faced in the management of records on large‐scale projects. Design/methodology/approach Ethnographic data were collected from several projects by observations, interviews and looking at records management systems. Thematic analysis was employed, where common descriptions of practice and frequency of themes emerged. Findings This paper found three themes Australian construction companies experience in daily records work. A construction project's pace means project staff create records, but neglect to share them amongst other team members. Secondly, there are differences between overseas trained project staff and local staff in the way they give importance to records management issues. Thirdly, the pace of modern construction projects and managing the many data types that now make up records causes difficulty in keeping records current. Learnt work habits and resistance to changing practices is common despite pressures to ensure records are current, accurate and easily retrievable. Practical implications The paper's findings discuss the merits and drawbacks of ethnographic research suggesting strategies for undertaking such work. Using ethnographic methods is a way of uncovering micro‐level reasons for resistance to change and what work practices hinder successful records management. These findings produce an account of daily practice that provides detailed information to management to identify areas of change. Originality/value This paper provides a description of one way of researching records management issues and an insight into such issues occurring in the Australian construction industry.

Michael Nycyk

Records Management Journal

■Electronic records management  ■Effect of government policies on record management  ■Strategic developments in both the public and private sectors  ■Systems design and implementation  ■Models for records management  ■Best practice, standards and guidelines  ■Risk management and business continuity  ■Performance measurement  ■Continuing professional development  ■Consortia and co-operation  ■Marketing  ■Preservation  ■Legal and ethical issues

The Records Management Journal covers the following topics: electronic records management, the impact of government policies on record management, strategic developments in both the public and private sectors, systems design and implementation, models for records management, best practices, standards and guidelines, risk management and business continuity, performance measurement, continuing professional development, consortia and cooperation, marketing, preservation, and legal and ethical issues.

《Records Management Journal》涵盖以下主题：电子记录管理、政府政策对记录管理的影响、公共和私营部门的战略发展、系统设计与实施、记录管理模型、最佳实践、标准与指南、风险管理与业务连续性、绩效测量、持续职业发展、合作与联盟、市场营销、保存以及法律和伦理问题。

Records management practices in construction industries: Australian perspectives

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Journal Info

Category	Quartile
INFORMATION SCIENCE & LIBRARY SCIENCE	3