Re: Definitions of standardisation and specification Re: Colloquial Tidbits

On 17 September 2011 12:40, Marcos Caceres <w3c@marcosc.com> wrote:

> Here is what I've got from my PhD:
>
> As a point of entry, one can consider standardisation as a process whereby competing entities and other interested parties collaborate on the creation and ratification of a standard that defines how products are supposed to interact in the form of a specification (Vries, 2006, pp. 9‐13); (Bunsson & Jacobsson, 2000, pp. 1‐15); (Hickson, 2006).
>
> Although many definitions of a standard exist (Vries2006, pp. 3‐5), in this document I will be using the formal definition put forward by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and the International Electronic Commission (IEC):
>
> “[A] document, established by consensus and approved by a recognised body, that provides, for common and repeated use, rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or their results, aimed at the achievement of the optimum degree of order in a given context. Note – Standards should be based on the consolidated results of science, technology and experience, and aimed at the promotion of optimum community benefit.” (ISO/IEC, 2004) in (Vries, 2006, p. 4).
>
> The W3C defines a specification as a document “that prescribes requirements to be fulfilled by a product, process, or service” (QA Framework: Specification Guidelines, 2005). Poston explains that a specification “states or pictures how software is expected to behave and describes operational characteristics (performance, reliability, and so on) of the software.”
> …
>
> “It is well known that the production of technical specifications intertwines technological
> considerations with business, social, interpersonal, political, and ideological aspects.” (Sherif, 2006, p. 129)
>
> Key references:
>
> Bunsson, N., & Jacobsson, B. (2000). The Contemprary Expansion of Standardization. In N. Bunsson, & B. Jacobsson (Eds.), A World Of Standards. New York: Oxford Univesity Press
>
> ISO/IEC. (2004). Standardization and related activities: general vocabulary (8th Edition ed.). Geneva,Switzerland: ISO/IEC
>
> Sherif, M. H. (2006). When is Standardization Slow? In K. Jakobs, Advanced Topics in Information Technology Standards and Standardization Research (p. 128). Hershey: Ideas Group Publishing
>
> Vries, H. J. (2006). IT Standard Topology. In K. Jakobs (Ed.), Advanced Topics In Technology Standards and Standardization Research (Vol. I). Pennsylvania: Idea‐Group
>
> Kind regards,
> Marcos
>
> --
> Marcos Caceres

Up a level? What you have above is a definition of a 'standards document'?
 I might take a view that a 'standard' is something widely used as a
common [api? format?]
  I.e. having a document is the first part (mostly necessary), the
real standard is
  the next stage where the document is widely used, without (much) extension.
Is sax a 'standard' compared to html?

Without prompting, I'd pick this  adopted view, rather than the
availability of a document
as a standard?

Just a variant view?

regards






-- 
Dave Pawson
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http://www.dpawson.co.uk

Received on Saturday, 17 September 2011 11:54:55 UTC