This research proposal aims to study the effects of organizational characteristics on organizational archiving strategies. The proposal outlines the background, problem statement, theoretical framework, variables, hypotheses, methodology, and references. Specifically, it will examine the relationship between organizational characteristics as the independent variable and organizational archiving strategies as the dependent variable using a survey of 280 respondents from different organizations in Karachi, Pakistan. Regression analysis will be used to analyze the data and determine if there is an effect of organizational characteristics on archiving strategies. The findings may show that organizational characteristics influence the archiving approaches adopted by organizations.

1. Effects of Organizational
Characteristics on
Organizational Archiving
Strategies
Research Proposal
7/17/2012
Submitted to: Dr. IMTIAZ SUBHANI
Submitted By:
Danish Alvi (5043)
Shahzad Waheed (11381)
Syed Arif Ali Shah (7922)
Waqas Nadir (8556)

2. IQRA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CENTER- IURC
IQRA UNIVERSITY
Research title:
Effects of organizational characteristics on organizational archiving strategies.
Introduction:
Information does get influenced by the organizational environment; few of the characteristics do affect
the information services of the organization (Olson & Chervany 1980). The beauty of the digitization is
that if one object is recorded or say digitalized it can be accessed anywhere from around the world.
Organizational archives contain apposite records of decisions made by senior management and key operating
executives. Organization when going for Archiving it takes significant resources and qualified employees are
needed no matter how good your equipments are but one cannot do well without quality man power (Drimmelen
2004). Records of archival quality consist of correspondence and reports (Bakken, 1980). By the loss of
corporate memory organizations do suffer a lot (Sutton, 2001). In business world where vision is kept
decisively to the front organizations are better understood by looking at their past and where such exercise have
been performed, and archives have been established by professional employees, their past lessons are being
preserved and that organizations future structure is made (Anderson, 1982). Archives for an organization are
small mechanism just as many other archives are part of larger institution, just as institution like universities,
libraries, museums, government agencies, and historical societies. They reflect the past and present and sometime
help shape the future (Anderson, 1982). Information assets can effectively be retained and managed by archiving
and activities that secure the data (Sutton, 2001). The formal type of organizational knowledge that include;
business manuals and guidelines are not easily remembered by employees because they change at a constantly.
Problems experienced by on group of employees are not shared by other in order to preserve it should be
archived (Guerrero & Pino 2000). Unlike any other department organizations will find that archives are also
important and serve a lot to its organization (Bakken, 1982). The concept of museums and archives is almost the
same and obvious because archive and record as museums and artifacts have quite a long history which show
what they are today (Schwartz & Cook 2002). Many organizations have started to take initiative for archiving
(Moghaddam 2005).
Statement of the problem:
To study the effects of organizational characteristics, on organizational archiving strategies.

3. Model/Framework to be used:
The purpose of this research will be to observe the effect organizational characteristics on
organizational archiving strategies. Our framework will be different sector organizations.
Organizational Organizational
Archiving
Characteristics Stratagies
Variables to be studied:
Independent Variable
Organizational Characteristics
There are large body of theory and research in organizational behavior that examines the characteristics
of organizational structure and their relationships (Wiley and Sons 1974).
Dependent Variable
Organizational Archiving strategies
Archives Management, in particular as defined in digital vocabulary is very young discipline (J.D
Sutton, 2001).
Proposed Research hypothesis:
H: There is an effect of organizational characteristics on the archiving strategies of an organization.
Source of Information:
The source of information will be respondents.
Sampling technique & Procedure:
The sampling technique will be a non-probability technique called “Convenience technique”.

4. Sample size:
280 respondents to be proposed for this study.
Method of Data Collection & Procedure:
Data will be collected from the respondents by Personal Survey. This survey is being proposed for the
research because respondents are needed to ask about the organizational characteristics effecting
organizational archiving strategies. Each of the researchers will approach employees from different
organization in Karachi and conduct the survey
Instrument/s of Data Collection:
The instrument of data collection proposed in the study is questionnaire. Respondents will rate there
experience and beliefs on different scales and answer few questions which will help the researcher to
understand the relationship between the variables.
Statistical Tests to be used:
The statistical test proposed in the study is regression analysis.
Possible Research Finding:
1. There can be an effect of organizational characteristics on organizational archiving strategies.
List of References:
Douglas A. B. (1982). “Corporate Archives Today”. American Archivist, Vol.45, No.3.
Golnessa G. H. (2005). “Preserving Scientific Electronic Journals: A Study of Archiving Strategies”
Department of Library and Information Science, Shahed University Tehran, Iran.
Harold, P. A. (1982). “Business Archives: A Corporate Asset”. American Archivist, Vol.45, No.3.
Joan, M. S. and Terry. C. (2002). “Archives, Records, and Power: The Making of Modern Memory”,
Archival Science 2: 1-19.
Karen B. (1982). “Business Archives Literature”. American Archivist Vol.45, No.3.
Luis, A. G. and Jose, A. P. (2000). “Understanding Organizational Memory”. Department of Computer
Science, University of Chile.
Michael. J. D. Sutton. (2001). “Strategies for an Archives Management Program”
Margrethe, H. O and Norman, L. C. (1980). “The relationship between organizational characteristics

5. and the Structure of Information Services Function”, MIS Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 2 pp. 57-68.
Wim, V. D. (2004). “Universal Access Through Time: Archiving Strategies for Digital Publications”.
Libri, Vol.54 pp.98-103.
_______________ _________________
Thesis Supervisor Head Research IURC