What are the six stages of a record cycle?

• A. Creation, distribution, storage, and evaluation
• B. Creation, distribution, use, maintenance, storage, and disposition
• C. Drafting, filing, retrieval, sealing, archiving, destroying
• D. Planning, executing, monitoring, closing, disposing, archiving

Answer: (B)

Records move through a lifecycle that starts with creating evidence of business activity and ends with disposing of it when it’s no longer needed or required to be kept. The six stages—creation, distribution, use, maintenance, storage, and disposition—cover that complete journey.

Creation means capturing information as a formal record with the right metadata and context. Distribution recognizes that records often need to be shared with the right people or systems so they can be acted on or reviewed. Use is where the record serves its purpose—informing decisions or documenting actions. Maintenance involves keeping the content accurate and up to date, which may include updates or revisions. Storage is the organized, secure keeping of records for retrieval and protection over time. Disposition is the final step, applying retention rules to decide whether to destroy the record or archive it for long-term preservation, in line with policy and legal requirements.

Other options miss or confuse stages (for example, using terms that reflect project work rather than record management, or omitting essential steps like use or maintenance), which is why they don’t fit the standard record lifecycle as well.