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Article
Building strategic alliances to support advocacy and planning for digital preservation
Journal of Digital Media Management
  • Erin Baucom, University of Montana, Missoula
  • Tammy Troup, Montana State Historical Society
  • Conor Cote, Montana Tech
  • Sara Mannheimer, Montana State University-Bozeman
Document Type
Article
Publisher
Henry Stewart Publications
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Abstract

While the business benefits of digital asset management are well-documented, the benefits and importance of digital preservation are not. Digital preservation is a sustained commitment to maintenance activities which require a system of plans, policies, and implementation workflows. Coordination across departments is helpful for digital asset management, but it is mandatory for digital preservation. The Montana Digital Preservation Working Group (DPWG) operated under a five-point plan for collaboration between organizations. The plan consisted of cultivating shared knowledge, assessing the current digital preservation landscape at each institution, advocating for the value of digital preservation, implementing digital preservation practices, and sustaining the partnership by developing structures for ongoing projects and mutual support. In this article, the five-point plan for collaboration used by DPWG is adapted to build alliances in four key areas of an organization: the Project and Process Team, the Management Team, the Executive Team, and the Information Technology Team. By building strategic alliances that support digital preservation advocacy and planning, information managers extend their reach and resources, ultimately leading to more robust preservation of valuable digital assets.

Keywords
  • digital preservation,
  • strategic alliances,
  • external partnerships,
  • internal collaboration,
  • communication,
  • advocacy
Rights
© 2018 The Authors
Citation Information
Baucom, E., Troup, T., Cote, C. & Mannheimer, S. (Winter 2017-18). Building strategic alliances to support advocacy and planning for digital preservation. Journal of Digital Media Management, 6(2), 182-194.