The Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) relaunches an updated version of its Rapid Assessment Model (or DPC RAM) this week.
Designed to enable rapid benchmarking of an organization’s digital preservation capability, the DPC RAM is a digital preservation maturity modelling tool which aims to be applicable for organizations of any size in any sector, and for all content of long-term value.
Originally developed in conjunction with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority in the UK and first launched in 2019, the DPC RAM uses existing good practice to offer a model which is easy to understand, quick to apply and freely available for anyone to use.
Version 2 of DPC RAM retains its existing structure of 11 sections and 5 maturity levels and the examples provided within the model now cover additional areas such as user needs, ethics, environmental sustainability, accessibility, organizational strategy and continuity planning. Other changes to the model have focused on ensuring consistency and clarity.
“When we first launched DPC RAM at iPRES 2019 we were aware that future revisions would be required to keep it up-to-date and relevant,” explains Jenny Mitcham, the DPC’s Head of Good Practice and Standards. “What we have tried to do with this new version is respond to the community feedback we have gathered, whilst maintaining the existing structure of the model to facilitate benchmarking over time.”
With continuous improvement at its core, the DPC RAM supports progress in digital preservation – neither a one-off exercise nor a challenge that can be quickly solved. Understanding where an organisation is in terms of its digital preservation activities, where it wants to be, and how it can incrementally move forward towards its goal is key to achieving good practice. The DPC recommends applying the RAM on an annual basis to check progress and assess goals.
The tool is available for anyone to use, but DPC members receive exclusive access to an additional comparison feature which supports goals setting, internal advocacy and peer evaluation.
The DPC would like to thank those members of the community who have provided feedback on DPC RAM since its release, and also members of our Research and Practice sub-committee and Adrian Brown of the Parliamentary Archives for reviewing our proposed revisions of the model.
The not-for-profit DPC is an international advocate for digital preservation, and the DPC RAM is just one of the ways it helps the digital preservation community around the world to deliver resilient long-term access to digital content and services. The Coalition also supports its Members through community engagement, targeted advocacy work, training and workforce development, capacity building, good practice and standards, and through good management and governance. Its vision is a secure digital legacy.
Find out more about the DPC RAM 2.0