THE BMZ ACADEMY
THE BMZ ACADEMY
053 8213
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, THE BMZ ACADEMY
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, THE BMZ ACADEMY
Table of Contents
Overall Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5
QUESTION 1 ............................................................................................................................................ 6
(a) Critical Evaluation of Fundamental Ethical Principles that Should Guide Archivists and Records
Managers at NARSSA .............................................................................................................................. 6
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 6
2. Professionalism and Stewardship ....................................................................................................... 6
3. Impartiality and Objectivity ................................................................................................................ 7
4. Transparency and Public Trust ............................................................................................................ 8
5. Confidentiality and Privacy ................................................................................................................. 8
6. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 9
(b) Integrating Ethical Principles into Daily Decision-Making Using Ethical Frameworks ...................... 9
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 9
2. Applying Deontological Ethics: Upholding Duties and Professional Rules ....................................... 10
3. Applying Utilitarianism: Promoting the Greatest Public Benefit ...................................................... 10
4. Applying Virtue Ethics: Cultivating Professional Character and Ethical Culture ............................... 11
5. Using Principle-Based Professional Frameworks in Daily Activities.................................................. 12
6. Case Study Integration: NARSSA’s Ethical Challenges and Framework Application ......................... 12
7. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 13
(c) Strategies to Uphold Professional Integrity When Managing Records of High Personal or Cultural
Sensitivity .............................................................................................................................................. 13
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 13
2. Upholding Confidentiality and Privacy Through Structured Access Controls ................................... 14
3. Ensuring Impartial and Respectful Description of Culturally Sensitive Records ............................... 14
4. Demonstrating Stewardship Through Enhanced Preservation and Handling Practices ................... 15
5. Using Transparent and Documented Decision-Making to Support Accountability .......................... 16
6. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 16
(d) Appropriate Actions When Witnessing Ethical Misconduct in Alignment with Institutional and
Professional Guidelines......................................................................................................................... 17
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 17
2. Careful Documentation and Preservation of Evidence ..................................................................... 17
3. Assessing the Severity and Potential Risks of the Misconduct ......................................................... 18
4. Formally Reporting the Misconduct Through Approved Institutional Channels .............................. 18
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, THE BMZ ACADEMY
5. Safeguarding the Compromised Record to Prevent Further Harm .................................................. 19
6. Maintaining Confidentiality and Avoiding Interference in the Investigation ................................... 19
7. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 20
(e) Ethical Dilemmas in Managing Confidential or Sensitive Records and Approaches to Resolve Them
.............................................................................................................................................................. 20
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 20
2. Ethical Dilemma 1: Transparency vs. Confidentiality........................................................................ 21
3. Ethical Dilemma 2: Impartiality vs. Cultural and Political Sensitivity ................................................ 21
4. Ethical Dilemma 3: Stewardship vs. Disclosure................................................................................. 22
5. Approach 1: Using Legal and Policy Frameworks to Guide Ethical Decisions ................................... 22
5. Approach 2: Contextualisation and Consultation in Description ...................................................... 23
6. Approach 3: Surrogacy, Risk Mitigation, and Preservation-Driven Access Policies .......................... 23
7. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 24
(f) Institutional Resources, Policies and Professional Development Initiatives Required to Support
Archivists and Records Managers in Navigating Ethical Challenges ..................................................... 24
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 24
2. Essential Institutional Policies and Ethical Frameworks ................................................................... 25
3. Professional Development Initiatives to Strengthen Ethical Competence ....................................... 26
4. Institutional Resources to Support Ethical Decision-Making ............................................................ 26
5. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 27
(g) Actions When the Ethical Duty to Preserve Digital Records Conflicts With Legal Requirements for
Their Destruction .................................................................................................................................. 28
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 28
2. Verification and Careful Interpretation of Legal Requirements ....................................................... 28
3. Documenting the Ethical-Legal Conflict in Detail.............................................................................. 29
4. Exploring Mitigation Strategies That Balance Preservation and Legal Compliance ......................... 29
5. Escalating the Decision to Senior or Ethical Oversight Authorities .................................................. 30
6. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 31
Overall Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 31
Reference .............................................................................................................................................. 33
BMZ ACADEMY 061 262 1185/068 053 8213Page 4 of 36
THE BMZ ACADEMY
053 8213
BMZ ACADEMY 061 262 1185/068 053 8213Page 1 of 36
, THE BMZ ACADEMY
BMZ ACADEMY 061 262 1185/068 053 8213Page 2 of 36
, THE BMZ ACADEMY
Table of Contents
Overall Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 5
QUESTION 1 ............................................................................................................................................ 6
(a) Critical Evaluation of Fundamental Ethical Principles that Should Guide Archivists and Records
Managers at NARSSA .............................................................................................................................. 6
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 6
2. Professionalism and Stewardship ....................................................................................................... 6
3. Impartiality and Objectivity ................................................................................................................ 7
4. Transparency and Public Trust ............................................................................................................ 8
5. Confidentiality and Privacy ................................................................................................................. 8
6. Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................... 9
(b) Integrating Ethical Principles into Daily Decision-Making Using Ethical Frameworks ...................... 9
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 9
2. Applying Deontological Ethics: Upholding Duties and Professional Rules ....................................... 10
3. Applying Utilitarianism: Promoting the Greatest Public Benefit ...................................................... 10
4. Applying Virtue Ethics: Cultivating Professional Character and Ethical Culture ............................... 11
5. Using Principle-Based Professional Frameworks in Daily Activities.................................................. 12
6. Case Study Integration: NARSSA’s Ethical Challenges and Framework Application ......................... 12
7. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 13
(c) Strategies to Uphold Professional Integrity When Managing Records of High Personal or Cultural
Sensitivity .............................................................................................................................................. 13
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 13
2. Upholding Confidentiality and Privacy Through Structured Access Controls ................................... 14
3. Ensuring Impartial and Respectful Description of Culturally Sensitive Records ............................... 14
4. Demonstrating Stewardship Through Enhanced Preservation and Handling Practices ................... 15
5. Using Transparent and Documented Decision-Making to Support Accountability .......................... 16
6. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 16
(d) Appropriate Actions When Witnessing Ethical Misconduct in Alignment with Institutional and
Professional Guidelines......................................................................................................................... 17
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 17
2. Careful Documentation and Preservation of Evidence ..................................................................... 17
3. Assessing the Severity and Potential Risks of the Misconduct ......................................................... 18
4. Formally Reporting the Misconduct Through Approved Institutional Channels .............................. 18
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, THE BMZ ACADEMY
5. Safeguarding the Compromised Record to Prevent Further Harm .................................................. 19
6. Maintaining Confidentiality and Avoiding Interference in the Investigation ................................... 19
7. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 20
(e) Ethical Dilemmas in Managing Confidential or Sensitive Records and Approaches to Resolve Them
.............................................................................................................................................................. 20
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 20
2. Ethical Dilemma 1: Transparency vs. Confidentiality........................................................................ 21
3. Ethical Dilemma 2: Impartiality vs. Cultural and Political Sensitivity ................................................ 21
4. Ethical Dilemma 3: Stewardship vs. Disclosure................................................................................. 22
5. Approach 1: Using Legal and Policy Frameworks to Guide Ethical Decisions ................................... 22
5. Approach 2: Contextualisation and Consultation in Description ...................................................... 23
6. Approach 3: Surrogacy, Risk Mitigation, and Preservation-Driven Access Policies .......................... 23
7. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 24
(f) Institutional Resources, Policies and Professional Development Initiatives Required to Support
Archivists and Records Managers in Navigating Ethical Challenges ..................................................... 24
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 24
2. Essential Institutional Policies and Ethical Frameworks ................................................................... 25
3. Professional Development Initiatives to Strengthen Ethical Competence ....................................... 26
4. Institutional Resources to Support Ethical Decision-Making ............................................................ 26
5. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 27
(g) Actions When the Ethical Duty to Preserve Digital Records Conflicts With Legal Requirements for
Their Destruction .................................................................................................................................. 28
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 28
2. Verification and Careful Interpretation of Legal Requirements ....................................................... 28
3. Documenting the Ethical-Legal Conflict in Detail.............................................................................. 29
4. Exploring Mitigation Strategies That Balance Preservation and Legal Compliance ......................... 29
5. Escalating the Decision to Senior or Ethical Oversight Authorities .................................................. 30
6. Conclusion ......................................................................................................................................... 31
Overall Conclusion ................................................................................................................................ 31
Reference .............................................................................................................................................. 33
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