Document controllers are very necessary as they provide:

• A single (contractual) point for receipt of all project mail - of whatever type, and however it arrives
• On a very large job, there may need to be a small team of document controllers.
• A single entity which is responsible for all the information and its integrity
• They may need specialist skills to operate document control software
• Document Controllers are at the bottom of the organisation - its a very very boring job.
• They need instruction as to what to do - e.g. which documents to issue to which people, when and why.
• There is therefore a constant interaction with senior members of the project team.
• The information that they generate can be used for other purposes - e.g. an SDRS

• Many people think that there is nothing that cannot be done on a spreadsheet
• That their mail is for them alone
• The net result is everyone keeping their own records.

• People very often must have their own copies of documents
• Personal copies of documents implies keeping personal records
• Some people are meticulous in the filing, others are not.
  • Documents may or may not be found
• Some people have excellent memories, others do not
  • Events may not be recorded, just remembered

• Responsibility is a "personal" not "collective" thing.
• A split responsibility means split records.