What is the significance of e-mails in the context of records management?

E-mails play a crucial role in records management because they have transformed the ways organizations communicate and store information. Given their ability to facilitate rapid and efficient exchanges of information, e-mails have become an essential part of business operations, as well as official documentation. This revolution in communication not only affects how information is shared but also how it is recorded, tracked, and managed as part of an organization's formal records.

E-mails serve as official correspondence, often capturing decisions, commitments, and important information that must be retained for accountability and legal reasons. They are classified as records when they meet the criteria set forth by records management policies, which can include their content, context, and the purpose they serve within an organization. Thus, the significance of e-mails extends beyond casual communication, impacting how records are created, maintained, and preserved in a structured records management system.