The Logic of Failure: Implications for Record-Keeping by Organizations

The implication is that human beings are not naturally “wired” to create and use records, which document occurrences in the past and help us recognize patterns that may portend problems in the future. Instead, we are tuned to react to the stimuli thrust upon us at each instant. On the other hand, the fact we are no longer in the prehistoric phase of the life cycle of humankind attests to the power of records to enable us to alter the future course of history, for better or worse, including its impact upon ourselves and the organizations in which we participate. Power is accompanied by responsibility. In human systems affecting multiple people, responsibility should be accompanied by accountability, and accountability requires records having the attributes outlined in ISO 15489.