Explain the term "file plan" and why case files need to be opened in accordance with its instructions.

Here are the answers to the questions:

Question 1:
By the 1980s most archivists, academics and records managers acknowledged that managing and preserving electronic records are among the most challenging problems facing their profession.

• a) Challenging: Managing and preserving electronic records, especially as technology evolved rapidly, presented significant difficulties and complexities for professionals in the 1980s and beyond. This is the most fitting description.
• b) Embarrassing: This term does not accurately describe the nature of the problems.
• c) Common: While the problems became common, the core issue was their difficulty, not just their prevalence.
• d) Simple: These problems were far from simple; they required new approaches and technologies.

The correct option is a.

$\boxed{\text{a. Challenging}}$

Question 2:
Case files which form part of the file plan are to be opened in accordance with the instructions appearing at the appropriate places in the file plan.

A file plan is a systematic guide that outlines how records are to be organized, created, and managed. This includes specific instructions for opening, naming, and maintaining different types of files, such as case files. Therefore, it is correct that case files should be handled according to these established instructions within the file plan to ensure consistency and proper recordkeeping.

The correct option is a.

$\boxed{\text{a. True}}$