ABSTRACT
An understanding of the evolution of office technology in its broadest sense, and of the ways in which it has been harnessed through history, is especially useful for business archivists. This is because it gives insight into how, when and why the many different record types making up a business archive were created, something especially important as the archives of businesses are generally more varied and complex than those of other organisations with the probable exception of large government departments and agencies. It also sheds light on the business itself through its adoption of new technology as a path to greater competitive advantage. Equally it explains changes in office organisation resulting from the innovation of new technology; knowledge of organisational change is always of importance to the archivist. At a more practical level, it helps with day-to-day issues relating to particular documents such as dating, appraisal and conservation.
