The first step in designing the life cycle management of IBM® Records Manager is to specify the system wide life cycle. It consists of one or more ordered phases through which all file plan components must pass as they transition through the life cycle.
Life cycle management design allows organizations to implement their business rules governing the life cycle processing of file plan components. Designing the business rules for life cycle management provides the maximum flexibility for organizations to decide how many phases comprise a life cycle. After you specify a life cycle, it becomes the basic foundation for all life cycle rules that your organization adopts.
Many organizations maintain two phases in the life cycles of their records. In the first phase, frequently accessed records are kept readily available. After a period of time, the activity of the records reduces sufficiently enough that keeping them nearby is no longer cost effective. These records can transition to the next phase of their life cycle. During this phase, the records move to an off site storage location and you can store them for extended periods of time, or perhaps permanently. After the final phase expires, the records are eligible for disposition.
