ARMA Standards Development Process

Setting Standards and Best Practices for the Profession

ARMA International's Standards Development Program is dedicated to providing accurate information to members of the RIM profession. To this end, the Standards Development Program develops American National Standards, technical reports and guidelines to address new issues in RIM and establish a foundation of time-tested RIM processes. In addition, ARMA International participates in the standards development processes of other organizations when a RIM perspective is relevant, such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

ARMA International became an accredited standards developing organization of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 1986. A complete copy of the ARMA International Standards Development Program Policies and Procedures: American National Standards and Technical Reports is available in this pdf. Additional information is contained in the pdf entitled ARMA International Standards Development Program Publication Guide.

Proposals for New Standards / Best Practices

Ideas for new standards/best practices publications may come from individual ARMA International members, as well as other professionals or organizations. ARMA International evaluates all proposals to determine appropriateness of scope and content. To submit an idea for consideration, please fill out the Project Proposal Form (.doc) and email it to standards@armaintl.org or fax it to 913.341.3742.

Who Does the Work?

ARMA International’s Standards Development Program team works in conjunction with volunteer project groups. A volunteer project group may be a ‘consensus group’ or a ‘workgroup’. A consensus group creates an American National Standard. A workgroup creates a technical report or guideline. Each group, whether it is a consensus group or a workgroup, is directed by a volunteer project group leader. All groups receive oversight by a project manager who is a member of the ARMA International Standards Development Program team.

Responsibilities of the Consensus Group Leader

Consensus Group Leader Definition: Leader of a project team (consensus group) engaged in the development of an American National Standard (ANS). The Consensus Group Leader is assigned by and reports to an ARMA International project manager. At no time may a Consensus Group Leader be assigned concurrently to more than one (1) project.

• Effectively works with a diverse group of individuals.
• Possesses good organization skills, communication skills, and writing skills.
• Maintains ARMA International membership in good standing.
• Provides the time commitment necessary to see the project through to completion—ARMA International estimates that each project will require a one (1) year time commitment.
• Maintains consensus group member listings with current contact information and enters on monthly status report; assists with outreach efforts if consensus group is not in balance.
• Submits monthly status reports to ARMA International and meeting minutes reports; directs group’s work to align with ARMA International project timeline.
• Sets up periodic conference calls and maintains ongoing communication with ARMA International to ensure appropriate scheduling of toll free conference line usage.
• Uses the ARMA International Project Proposal Form to collaborate with the project team on the agreed upon scope, and to develop an outline per the ARMA International project timeline.
• Manages the assignment, monitoring, and completion of deliverables for the project team on or before the agreed upon delivery date per the ARMA International project timeline.
• Using the ARMA International Standards Development Program Policies and Procedures: American National Standards and Technical Reports and the ARMA International Standards Development Program Publication Guide as resources, consolidates drafts into one cohesive document for review by ARMA International per the project timeline.
• Assists in formulation of responses to voter and public reviewer comments/objections.

If, at any time during the process, the Consensus Group Leader is unable to continue to provide the level of support needed to see the project through to completion, ARMA International should be notified and a new Consensus Group Leader may be selected.

Responsibilities of Workgroup Leader

Workgroup Leader Definition: Leader of a project team (workgroup) engaged in the development of a technical report or guideline. The Workgroup Leader is assigned by and reports to an ARMA International project manager. At no time may a Workgroup Leader be assigned concurrently to more than one (1) project.

• Effectively works with a diverse group of individuals.
• Possesses good organization skills, communication skills, and writing skills.
• Maintains ARMA International membership in good standing.
• Provides the time commitment necessary to see the project through to completion—ARMA International estimates that each project will require a one (1) year time commitment.
• Maintains workgroup member listings with current contact information and enters on monthly status report.
• Submits monthly status reports to ARMA International and meeting minutes reports; directs group’s work to align with ARMA International project timeline.
• Sets up periodic conference calls and maintains ongoing communication with ARMA International to ensure appropriate scheduling of toll free conference line usage.
• Uses the ARMA International Project Proposal Form to collaborate with the project team on the agreed upon scope, and to develop an outline per the ARMA International project timeline.
• Manages the assignment, monitoring, and completion of deliverables for the project team on or before the agreed upon delivery date per the ARMA International project timeline.
• Using the ARMA International Standards Development Program Policies and Procedures: American National Standards and Technical Reports and the ARMA International Standards Development Program Publication Guide as resources, consolidates drafts into one cohesive document for review by ARMA International per the project timeline.

If, at any time during the process, the Workgroup Leader is unable to continue to provide the level of support needed to see the project through to completion, ARMA International should be notified and a new Workgroup Leader may be selected.

Responsibilities of Consensus Group / Workgroup Members

Consensus Group/Workgroup Member Definition: Member of a project team (Consensus Group or Workgroup) engaged in the development of an American National Standard (ANS), technical report or guideline. Each Consensus Group/Workgroup Member is assigned to a project team by an ARMA International project manager. Due to the time commitment that is entailed, ARMA International suggests concurrent assignment to more than one (1) project team is not preferred.

• Effectively works with a diverse group of individuals.
• Possesses good organization skills, communication skills, and writing skills.
• Provides the time commitment necessary to see the project through to completion—ARMA International estimates that each project will require a one (1) year time commitment.
• Uses the ARMA International Project Proposal Form to collaborate with the project team on the agreed upon scope, and to develop an outline.
• Using the ARMA International Standards Development Program Policies and Procedures: American National Standards and Technical Reports and the ARMA International Standards Development Program Publication Guide as resources, collaborates with team to produce a cohesive document for review by ARMA International.

If, at any time during the process, the Consensus Group/Workgroup Member is unable to continue to provide the level of support needed to see the project through to completion, the Consensus Group/Workgroup Leader and ARMA International should be notified. A new Consensus Group/Workgroup Member may be recruited.