TITLE:
Function-Based Classification: Model Development and Validation
AUTHORS:
Umi Asma’ Mokhtar, Zawiyah M. Yusof
KEYWORDS:
Records Management, Function-Based Classification, Classification, Expert Validation, Functional Model
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.3 No.3,
March
31,
2015
ABSTRACT:
Classification is a key element of records
management initiatives, ensuring systematic organization of documents and
facilitates information retrieval. Records management initiatives are based on
the lifecycle concept, which comprises of creation, usage, maintenance
(classification and organization), appraisal, and disposal. However,
classification system is not prevalent in records management compared to other
information field such as library where the concept differed in application and
connotations. Although classification is crucial for disposal purpose, research
addressing the issue is scarce, as past studies limited their focused to the
earlier part of the records’ life cycle i.e. storage and retrieval. This study
examines classification from a records-management perspective by adopting the
qualitative approach. Also it discusses the development of functional-based
model and its validation. The proposed model consists of context and decomposed
diagrams to illustrate classification processes. The process for validating the
model consists of two phases. The first phase is the draft model by means of
expert validation, conducted to validate the content and the context of
classification process. The second phase of validation was aimed at validating
the model in accordance with eight criteria. Further discussion of the findings
concerns these seven criteria: content, scope, consistency, comprehensiveness,
tailorability, process sequence, and overall impression. The findings revealed
that the proposed model is a basic model that is crucial as a guidance for developing
records classification. Moreover, the proposed model is timely, as there is as
yet no such a model known as a functional model for classifying records.