John James O'Brien
Partner & Director, IRM Strategies
Meaning, knowledge, capacity building and defensible business practices for positive outcomes...that sum's it up.
With Robert Tornack, I have co-authored the knowledge resource development model, now published with case studies in the International Journal of Learning and Intellectual Capital (2009 - Vol. 6, No.1/2 pp. 31 - 51). Currently, we are working on a book based on this conceptual model.
Formerly Director, Government Records Service & Principal Archivist of Hong Kong and President, Institute of Certified Records Managers, I bring a seasoned and senior perspective on the relationship between authentic, reliable records and transparent, accountable governance. The two go together and require a specialized grasp of multimedia records management.
Information costs in time, space and equipment—and it provokes questions.
Supporting every aspect of your business, information feeds the corporate brain with electronic, paper and other records. It is a necessary, often hidden expense that goes far beyond technology. With attention to informatics, meaning, capacity building and compliance needs, IRM Strategies:
• audits practices to avoid nasty surprises;
• finds ways to cut waste and cost;
• saves you money and lessens risk, year after year.
10 contactsBuilding Business Capacity
IRM Strategies if focused on risk and compliance management in relation to information resources. Bringing Asia's only Certified Records Manager services to the challenge, we evaluate and develop the roadmap for knowledge resource management.
Global business requires trust. Defensible, transparent and accountable business practices open the door to new markets. It's key to risk and compliance management. More: it's about quality management and building corporate capacity for excellence and innovation.
IRM Strategies is a Hong Kong based registered partnership, active internationally. Lean enough to be where you need us, when you need us, we offer senior practitioners with experience on both sides of the table.
John James O'Brien, CRM, MALT is former Director, Government Records Service, Hong Kong HKSAR Government responsible for four offices including the Public Records Office, Records Systems Advisory Office and others safeguarding knowledge resources in a 180,000 strong civil service. Consulting experience in Canada includes program design and evaluation, business area analysis, taxonomy design and education for diverse industries such as energy, education, non-profits and more.
Partner & Director Robert Tornack, BSN, MBA brings extensive health governance and practice background to readiness assessment for major change initiatives. Building on experience leading three hospitals in Canada, he conducted the assessment and roadmap plan for transitioning Thailand's top grossing hospital toward an electronic health record and nursing management.
2002 - 2005Recruited to re-position a central agency to support the increasing transition to e-government. As Director and Principal Archivist, my focus was on enhancing the capacity of the Service to meet the challenge of evolving technologies and implications on authenticity and reliability of digital information, relative to defensible business processes.
Four major areas of responsibility included the Public Record Office of Hong Kong (archives), Preservation Services Office, Records Management & Administration Office, and the Records Systems Development Office.
Offered a second term, but having achieved the goals set to start the Service on a new course and seeing both need and potential in the general market, I chose to establish a boutique consultancy supporting change, human and information management.
1996 - 2002Advisory, education and management consulting services for multi-sector organizations in the area of records management, change process, and compliance with Freedom of information and Protection of Privacy and other legal frameworks related to information holdings.
Projects in health, education, energy, public/community service organizations involved a full range of management consulting services. Work examples include taxonomy design, facilitation, enterprise-wide project management, conflict resolution, teaching and executive coaching.
1973 - 1996Created and led British Columbia's most comprehensive RM program after serving as a Central Agency Anayst and Training Development Officer. Earlier roles included Heritage Site Impact assessment and site interpretation as an Information Officer. During this period, I taught at Camosun College and developed an independent educational practice.