In the previous article we covered the difference between policies and standards, the importance of standards, some of the reasons as to why we have and need standards and began a looking into what is a standard? Today we are going to explore in more depth the subject of what is a standard and what is in a standard?
What is a Standard?
A Standard is a published document which sets out the specifications and procedures that are designed to ensure that a material, product, method or service is fit for its purpose and consistently performs in the way it was intended. A standard can be:
An Open Standard - Meaning that the standard is readily available and accessible to all and sundry. The primary obligation is on the part of those wishing to adopt or employ an open standard to adhere to and comply with the specifications contained within.
There is also a general proviso that any further developments of an open standard remain open; usually as an amendment or extension of the original, and that any such work must be clearly stated as being supplemental with full detail of said changes being accompanied with complete and open documentation.
A Proprietary Standard - "In-House" or "owned" by some entity or group of entities to the exclusion of all other parties unless otherwise formally agreed upon as shared (cooperative) or limited usage rights between all entities undertaking to the agreement and all stipulations contained within. There is generally no guarantee of interoperability with proprietary standards from different factions.
A classic example being the two video standards that were backed by different factions: Beta Max and VHS. Each technology had its merits and its proponents. But all in all both standards were totally incompatible with each other. As time went by VHS won and Beta Max disappeared off into the sunset.
Another long standing case of note was; up until recently, the incompatibility of Apple® computers and their Mac® operating system and Intel® x86 architecture CPUs. Because the difference here was so fundamental and the methodology that the CPU employed when addressing data was so crucial the very manner in which bit ordering was approached was so diametrically different between the two systems there would never be a meeting of minds here. That is until Apple® decided to go with their own customised version of the now reliable Linux operating system which had been built up over the years to run on Intel® x86 and compatible CPUs now manufactured only by Intel® themselves and AMD® did we see the change. We also saw the Apple® adds promoting Macs as “With Intel® Inside”.
De Facto Standards - Generally de facto standards are followed as a matter of convenience. There are no truly binding regulations between parties that adopt such a standard. One common interpretation that has and still is used by organisations concerns their right of and to substitution.
For example a manufacturer may for whatever reason be unable to deliver goods as promised then at the manufacturer's discretion they are entitled to substitute the goods or services contracted with goods or services of not less than equal to but usually greater value than those originally contracted for. This is a situation that depends very heavily upon the manufacturer, vendor or supplier; of the said goods or services, desire to maintain good-will (their good reputation) in generally exceptional circumstances.
The overall benefit that a small number of customers get in the short term is off-set by the continued loyalty that those customers and many other customers will place with the manufacturer, vendor or service provider.
Well they did go out of their way when they didn't have to. This is a sentiment that promotes much direct and indirect goodwill between current customers and forms the “track-record” by which many future potential customers will make buying decisions. In the marketing industry this is known as “a lost leader”
De Jure Standards - Only because we have to. Here we have a class of standards which are used purely because of more or less legally binding legislation, contracts or other documents.
More often than not some form of legislation has been enacted that has resulted in a statutory body (the legislature or legislative body (usually appointed by government) that issues these types of “official” standards or decrees with ensuing obligation by all parties to adhere to. Thus they can be viewed as prerequisite for conducting business and/or any other affairs between different entities.
Opt-In Standards - The De Jure standard plus the extra mile. The individual or organisation is required to adhere to some form of De Jure standard but has decided for whatever reasons to adopt as a standard policy stipulations that exceed the De Jure standard.
