A new steering group has been launched with the aim of creating the first ever publically available specification (PAS) for enterprise content management applications, to create more clarity for IT buyers around the term.

The new Steering Group will be led by ECM consultancy The Content Group and the BSI British Standards to create a PAS by the end of the year, according to The Content Group. The PAS is a vital first step on the road towards an internationally agreed standard, accordint to Content Group founder, Ben Richmond.

Members of the steering group have been gathered from industry associations, analyst firms such as CMS Watch, system integrators like Logica, technology vendors and end user organisations including Credit Suisse.

"Unless organisations take a step back from the technology and adopt a best practice approach to defining and implementing an ECM strategy, the potential of this powerful solution set will never be realised," said Richmond in a statement. "This standard will provide a clear frame of reference for those engaging in ECM initiatives.”