IRMS Skills Matrix:

One of the aims of the Society is to support members in their professional development and growth. This matrix is designed to give members a list of key skills in the various areas of practice in our information world. This also includes soft skills that assist in the management of information. The matrix is not 'legally binding' nor is it to be used or read in terms of 'if a person does not have x skill they cannot be a records manager or other'. Instead, professionals and their employers can use the matrix to determine what skills they want key roles to have and support their professionals in their development. 

Our thanks go to all those involved in the development and launch of the Matrix in September 2023, including key third parties like the Department of Education, the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the Archives and Records Association and others. 

 

How to use the Matrix:

The Matrix is an excel spreadsheet that takes the following professional areas and lists 'skills' and 'duties' that form part of that area. This includes an area for 'soft skills' that don't necessarily fit in one professional area, but instead are soft skills that benefit one or more professional area. 

The Professional Areas: 

1. Soft Skills
2. Records Management
3. Information Management
4. Information Law
5. Information Architecture
6. Knowledge Management
7. Library Management
8. Information Security (to be developed)
9. Data Management (to be developed)

Each skill within a professional area will then a level beside it on the right. These are labelled as 'levels' 1-4 (1 being no experience in that skill through to 4 of being very experienced and able to train others in that skill). It's these levels that people can use to see where they are on the scale and if they want to develop it further. 

In each of the cells for a skill is some examples of the things a person 'does' to demonstrate they are at that level. 

Please see below video which explores the Matrix in a little more detail for your reference. 

 

Maintenance and Development of the Matrix:

The Society has established a working group to develop the matrix further. On our development plan we are planning to embed signposts into the matrix for courses, qualifications or opportunities so members can see how the Society might be able to help them gain more experience or training in a particular skill. We also want to include skills on Information Security, Data Management and Governance of AI. Once a formal development plan has been agreed we will share with members for their awareness. 

If you have any queries or issues with the Matrix please email skillsmatrix@irms.org.uk. 

 

Skills Matrix Working Group:

The Society has a Sub-Committee of the Executive that operates as a working group made up of volunteers with an interest in developing the Matrix further. Dedicating a few hours a month, the group works to develop the matrix further and ensure it remains up-to-date for members. Details of the working group can be found on their working group page. 

 

The Skills Matrix version 1.0:

The Matrix can be accessed via the area below. You will need to be in your IRMS membership account to access it. The file is an Excel file. We will do what we can to version control but if you download it and store a copy locally be aware that the most current version will always be here in this file library. 

Item Name		Posted By	Date Posted
There are no files to display.