تقييم ممارسات إدارة الوثائق في المؤسسات الحكومية بسلطنة عُمان وفقًا لمتطلبات هيئة الوثائق والمحفوظات الوطنية

This study aims to evaluate the records management practices in governmental institutions in the Sultanate of Oman according to the requirements of the National Records and Archives Authority by examining the reality of records management practices in governmental institutions and their compatibility with the requirements of the Authority.
The study adopts the quantitative approach to collect the study data through using a checklist, which is administered to the study sample reached (48) institutions in order to find out the reality of records management practices in governmental institutions and their compatibility with the requirements of the Authority.
The results of the study have demonstrated that the institutions, under study, have achieved an average compatibility rate with an arithmetic mean of 61% in applying the Authority’s requirements for managing current and intermediate records. The institutions have achieved high compatibility rate in (the legislative framework of records unit structure, post management, applying the systems of common and private records management, records appraisal, records destruction), while they have achieved an average compatibility rate in (intermediate records storages, transfer of intermediate records to storages, access to intermediate records, transfer, monitoring and evaluation of records management, and training, awareness and support of records management). They have achieved low compatibility rates in (procedures of maintaining and handling confidential records, appraisal of current records before transferring them to the storage, minutes of delivering records to employees whose services have ended, and electronic records management).
The study has come up with a set of recommendations, the most important of which are as follows. The governmental institutions need to pay more attention to the application of all requirements and tools adopted by the Authority for records management, and they should prepare storages for their intermediate records. It is important to create greater awareness among officials in higher managements about the role and importance of the records departments and sections. Training and awareness programs for institutions employees on records management procedures should be intensified. Professional training center should be established under the supervision of the National Records and Archives Authority to train employees in records departments and sections.