EC awards €300,000 contract to Cornwell Management Consultants to develop international information
The European Commission has awarded a 300,000 euro contract to UK-based Cornwell Management Consultants to develop the next generation international de facto standard for information and electronic records management (MoReq2.
[UKPRwire, Thu Jan 25 2007] Cornwell Management Consultants plc, Europe’s leading supplier of independent consultancy in electronic document and records management, has been awarded the €300,000 (£202,500) European Commission contract to define the next generation of the Model Requirements for Electronic Records Management specification, known as MoReq2. Since its release in 2000 the original MoReq, also developed by Cornwell, has gained widespread international recognition as the de facto standard for electronic records management (ERM) systems.
MoReq2 is destined to become the guiding principle used by ERM system suppliers and developers to provide required functionality, and by outsourced records management service providers to define their service offerings. The standard also promises to revolutionise ERM procurement, auditing and training schemes around the globe. MoReq2 will be used by a broad spectrum of public sector and commercial organisations when preparing requests for proposals, evaluating existing systems and preparing records management training materials. It will also provide a valuable teaching resource for academic institutions.
Cornwell has already secured unprecedented support from a vast cross-section of the ERM community, including most of the top ten software companies worldwide, the majority of ERM system suppliers, a representative selection of private and public organisations from more than fifteen European countries, a range of professional and industry bodies and National Archive organisations from European Union member states.
According to Marc Fresko, EDM & ERM Consulting Services Director at Cornwell, “MoReq2 will be an important European information management standard with far-reaching consequences. In developing MoReq2 we recognise the need to consult as widely as possible, with users, software suppliers and experts, to ensure that the standard is realistic, practical and effective. By developing MoReq2 with the full co-operation, knowledge and understanding of the ERM community we will ensure its success and longevity. Any organisation or individuals wanting to provide input throughout the MoReq2 development phase should contact Cornwell to register their interest.” The authors’ work will be monitored by a distinguished editorial review panel comprised of international ERM experts, who will provide feedback and guidance as the standard is formulated. The final seal of approval will be given by the European Commission in association with the European DLM Forum.
Unlike its predecessor, MoReq2 will include a framework for an official software certification testing regime. The testing regime will be established by the DLM Forum. Organisations developing and implementing an ERM system based on the requirements of MoReq2 can be assured that records will be properly managed, accessible at all times, retained for as long as they are required and properly disposed of once the retention period has ended. Cornwell will work closely with imbus ag, a leading independent specialist software testing organisation based in Germany, to develop MoReq2 software certification testing materials.
MoReq2 will undoubtedly become one of the most important information management standards for the future. Frank Brady, Head of Unit for Electronic Records Management and Archival Policy at the European Commission, said “MoReq is already an important de facto standard that is widely used throughout Europe. MoReq2 will provide thoroughly updated, relevant guidelines taking into account knowledge and experience gained over the last six years and advances in ERM technology. Organisations are increasingly recognising the importance of managing electronic records effectively and maintaining accurate and accessible historical records, while ensuring compliance to legislation and other important regulations. Cornwell has in-depth knowledge and an extensive network of contacts in the ERM community, yet has remained entirely independent, which has placed them in a position of authority in this sector. We received several credible, high quality MoReq2 tender responses, but overall felt that Cornwell was best placed to generate a universally accepted, enduring benchmark that will stand the test of time.”
MoReq2 will be available free of charge early next year. For more information on MoReq2, or to register your interest in providing input throughout the MoReq2 development phase, please email moreq2@cornwell.co.uk.
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About Cornwell Management Consultants
Cornwell Management Consultants plc provides independent management and IS/IT consultancy services to organisations in the public and private sectors across the UK and around the world. Since its formation in 1991 Cornwell has gained extensive public sector experience in defence, central and local government and healthcare, while in the private sector the company has enjoyed considerable international success in a variety of industries including financial services, retail, logistics and oil & gas..
Central to Cornwell’s ethos is its independence. While enjoying excellent working relations with suppliers across the information management spectrum, Cornwell has no affiliations or partnerships with any software vendors, hardware manufacturers, systems integrators or Internet service providers, enabling its consultants to offer honest, pragmatic, unbiased advice. Cornwell floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange in November 2004 and the company’s 2005 results, announced in March 2006, declared turnover of £20.7m (approximately €30.7m).
About MoReq
The original Model Requirements for Electronic Records Management (MoReq) was initiated by the DLM Forum, a stakeholder organisation created by the European Commission that brings together many of the national archives of the EU member states and other public and private organisations interested in electronic records and archives management. MoReq was commissioned, paid for and published in 2000 by the European Commission, and it has subsequently been translated by other independent organisations into more than ten languages (available at www.cornwell.co.uk/moreq). It was developed by Cornwell.
MoReq focuses mainly on the functional requirements for the management of electronic records by an electronic records management system (ERMS). It also contains a model of how filing plans, files and records relate to each other and is applicable to both electronic and hybrid files. MoReq was designed to be a practical specification that outlines the essential elements a system should have to ensure that records are properly managed and maintained. It offers a generic modular specification enabling organisations to incorporate only aspects of MoReq which are relevant to their ERMS.
For more information on MoReq visit www.tinyurl.com/yz3wlp
About the DLM Forum
DLM Forum representatives reviewed MoReq with the European Commission in 2005 and it was decided to commission and fund an evolutionary, compatible update, now known as MoReq2. The European Commission issued an open, competitive request for proposal that attracted responses from a variety of professional consulting organisations across Europe. Its scope and outline contents are defined in the MoReq2 Scoping Study report (http://tinyurl.com/yh6tmp).
Suppliers supporting MoReq2 and providing input include most of the top software suppliers worldwide: Adobe, CA, EMC, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle and SAP. Other ERM system suppliers, specialists and industry bodies involved in shaping MoReq2 include AIIM International, Anite, ARMA International, BCC Services, Captaris, Dexmar, DigitalPreservationEurope, document@work, Docuware, Fabasoft, gedas, Haessler Information, Hyperwave, IBM/FileNet, ICZ, IDOX, International Council on Archives, Melon Web, Meridio, Objective, Open Text, Records Management Society, Records Managers Guild (Russia), Scientific Archivists Group, SER Solutions, Society of Archivists Ireland, Spescom Software, Tower Software UK, Vignette Europe and Xerox.
For further information on MoReq2 visit www.moreq2.eu or email moreq2@cornwell.co.uk
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