Describe the difference between records management and information governance.

• A. Records management is the operational discipline for controlling records through the lifecycle; information governance is the overarching framework aligning policies, people, processes, and technology to meet objectives.
• B. Information governance is only about IT systems.
• C. Records management is the operational discipline for controlling records through the lifecycle; information governance is the overarching framework aligning policies, people, processes, and technology to meet objectives.
• D. They are unrelated.

Answer: (C)

The main idea being tested is the distinction between hands-on records control and the broader governance framework that guides all information in an organization. Records management is the operational discipline that actively handles records through their lifecycle—from creation and capture to storage, retention, and eventual disposition. It focuses on applying specific procedures, retention schedules, classification schemes, and safeguarding practices to ensure records are kept or destroyed appropriately.

Information governance, on the other hand, is the enterprise-wide framework that aligns policies, people, processes, and technology to meet organizational objectives. It sets the rules and governance structures for information use, compliance, privacy, risk management, and value realization from information assets. RM implements the policies and procedures IG defines, ensuring that day-to-day handling of records supports the broader goals and standards of the organization.

That broader scope is why the statement focusing on IG as the overarching framework and RM as the operational discipline best captures the relationship. It’s not only about IT systems, and they are not unrelated—the two areas work together to ensure compliant, efficient, and valuable information management.