What is a Standard?
Why have Standards in our industry?
Why is AIIM involved in Standards?
How is AIIM involved in Standards?
What is the scope of AIIM's Standards Program?
How does the process work? How does AIIM produce a Standard?
What is a technical report?
What is a best practice?
What is an AIIM Recommended Practice?
What is due process?
What is required to participate?
How do I get involved?
What is a Standard?
A standard is a specification that is set up by an authority as a rule for measuring quality, establishing criterion, or as a model for a general operating practice. They promote interchangeability and improvements of products; while at the same time eliminate misunderstanding or confusion between manufacturers and buyers with respect to products and services. With standards you can effectively streamline processes and trim costs, business can secure a competitive advantage and remain competitive in the face of national and global market changes.
Why have Standards in our industry?
Standards do alot for our industry; they:
- Promote interchangeability of system components which leads to easier adoption
- Improve performance, increase sales, and grow profits
- Expand markets through better interoperability and increased credibility
- Ensure a better success rate and longer system life through the use of vendor products complying with standards
- Protect vital corporate records and technology investment through interchangeability and open platforms
- Reduce risk by making implementations easier and more successful
Why is AIIM involved in Standards?
AIIM's Standards Program while providing many values and benefits to the industry also leads to additional members, both Professional and Trade. By attracting attention and increasing participation in standards development the association will improves its brand recognition and helps to position AIIM as the leader in the ECM market and the official standards development organization for ECM in ANSI. This results in an increase in participation in AIIM functions, such as the Conference and Exposition. Better and more ECM standards will also increase vendors' sales, user acceptance, and industry growth, a primary goal of the association.
What is the scope of AIIM's Standards Program?
The scope of the AIIM Standards Program shall be the standardization of terminology, definitions, sizes, formats, quality, methods of measurement, apparatuses, and procedures for hte production, use, and storage and retrieval of structured and unstructured content (documents) and related source data and processese related to enterprise content management (ECM).
How is AIIM involved in Standards?
AIIM hosts twenty-plus Standards committees comprised of volunteers. These working groups meet regularly to:
- discuss changes in the industry that affect their Standards;
- regularly review each accredited Standards for relevance and currency;
- form new groups to discuss and draft Standards related to the latest technology practices.
Over 80 of AIIM's standards, recommended practices, and technical reports have been drafted and approved by ANSI.
AIIM holds the secretariat for ISO/TC 171, Document Management Applications and TC 171 SC2, Document Management Applications, Application Issues.
AIIM is also the administrator for the U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to ISO TC171, Document Management Applications that represents the United States at international meetings. Participation in this group is limited to individuals who are domiciled in the United States. If you do not live in the U.S. you may participate through your country's standards organization.
How does the process work? How does AIIM produce a Standard?
The volunteer members of the various AIIM Standards committees and working groups each collaborate, research, and bring best practices to the table. The group then drafts a recommended practice. These documents work their way through their committees getting reviewed and revised until the committee and reviewing public agree that the document is ready to be submitted to ANSI (the American National Standards Institute) for their review and approval.
Because these are industry Standards, there are Policies and Procedures to follow throughout this entire process. But AIIM takes care of the administration of it all, so as a volunteer, you get to concentrate on the creative aspects.
What is a technical report?
A technical report is tutorial in nature and may be written prior to hte development of a formal standard when a technology is too new for standardization. It serves as a guideline - not a rule, to assist the user, vendor or manufacturer in reducing costs, improving quality or marketing their products and services.
What is a best practice?
A best practice provides end user guidance as to the most appropriate and often tested or proven method for using a technology or process.
What is an AIIM Recommended Practice?
An AIIM Recommended Practice (ARP) is an industry standards that AIIM is producing. The way the procedures have been developed allow ARPs to be produced in a much shorter time period than the traditional standards. These standards will be made available on the web for no cost for one year. At the end of the year, the standard's value will be assessed against such factors as market relevance and adoption to determine if it is to be submitted to ANSI or ISO for their branding.
What is due process?
Due process allows for equity and fair play. It means that no obstacles shall be created that prevent anyone with a direct and material interest from forming a viewpoint.
What is required to participate?
While membership in AIIM is not a requirement to participate, it is recommended that participants at a minimum hold an Associate status with AIIM. The amount of time participation on the committee requires is directly related to the amount of time you want to place into the committee work. AIIM does not reimburse for any expenses resulting from participation in the work.
How do I get involved?
Contact:
Betsy Fanning, Director, AIIM Standards Program
301-755-2682
bfanning@aiim.org
