OVERVIEW: How do you make sure critical records work doesn't fall apart when staff leave, roles change, or processes evolve?
In this session, Michigan Records Management Services will share how they built and sustained a business process management (BPM) program that documents work down to the click level - creating consistency, accountability, and resilience across their organization. Attendees will learn how RMS identified core business processes, documented them using clear tools (standard operating procedures, process maps, and process assessments), and embedded regular review cycles to keep documentation accurate and useful.
This session will walk through a real-world BPM case study, showing how detailed process documentation improves training, reduces risk, breaks down silos, and strengthens service delivery. The BPM program has helped RMS reduce onboarding time, improve cross-team collaboration, and ensure that no critical process lives only in one person's head.
The presenter will also share lessons learned and practical tips for getting started with BPM in your own archives or records program - without needing a massive budget or specialized software. While the program was implemented within a state records management office, the tools and approaches discussed are applicable to archivists and records managers at all levels of government.
Attendees will leave with:
- A clear understanding of what a BPM program is and why it matters
- Practical examples of SOPs, process maps, and process assessments
- Guidance for planning and implementing BPM in their own organization
GARA CERTIFICATE CORE COMPETENCY AREA: "Program Establishment and Administration"
PRESENTER(s): Caryn Wojcik, Senior Records Analyst, Michigan Records Management Services
Caryn Wojcik is the Senior Records Analyst for the State of Michigan Records Management Services. She began working for the State of Michigan in 1996. She is responsible for developing Retention and Disposal Schedules for public records, information governance initiatives, and training government employees about best practices for records management. Ms. Wojcik received both her bachelor’s degree in history (1993) and her master’s degree in information and library science (1995) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is a Certified Archivist - Emeritus. Ms. Wojcik was Secretary to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators (NAGARA) between 2003-2012. She was elected to the NAGARA presidential track in 2019 and served as President during 2020-2021. She is currently serving as the NAGARA representative on the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).