NCC Members have free access to this Guideline on the NCC Membership website.

As anyone who has nervously opened up their email inbox after a fortnight's holiday will know, we are drowning in information in today's world.

We know that many, or most, of the items (electronic and paper) that we receive are junk, but sorting the worthwhile from the rubbish can be a laborious job. And once we have identified the valid information, we then have to sort it, process it, make decisions based on it, file it and then possibly archive it.

These Guidelines propose a way forward for handling the growing mountain of data and for getting the best out of it. They show how paper documents can be digitised and merged with electronic records. They demonstrate how a well-managed electronic document management system can slash staff costs, save office space, and create better working conditions, as well as speeding up office processes.

The Guidelines also show how business procedures can be defined, implemented and automated, how policies can be enforced, and how information can be managed through the various stages of the process. And this is not just for big organisations. Low-cost servers and data storage have brought the necessary technology within the reach of all companies. By the use of workflow and electronic document management systems, it is possible to make paper in-trays, and snail-like internal mail systems a thing of the past.

All we really need is the will to meet the challenge.