Re: [Conformance] Definition of Compliance vs. conformance

Hi all,

In my thesis from February 2016, I wrote the following paragraph about the
subject:

*The meaning of the words conformance and compliance*
Although the words conformance and compliance are often used as synonyms,
they each have a
distinctive meaning:

*Conformance* - action in accordance with some specified standard
*Compliance*  - the act or process of doing what you have been asked or
ordered to do

In this document, the words are not interchangeable: conformance describes
meeting the
requirements that are defined in the WCAG 2.0 specification, whereas
compliance describes
meeting the requirements that are defined in a web accessibility policy.
The two words match only
in a scenario where a policy prescribes that websites must conform to WCAG
2.0.

*source: https://30x.eu/thesis <https://30x.eu/thesis>, page 10 (bottom)*

So I'm with Gregg Vanderheiden: "You comply with laws and conform to
standards." My only addition: "...laws and policies..."

Nowadays I work as a policy maker on web accessibility. In my opinion it is
important that the distinction between the two terms is well documented to
avoid confusion.


Kind regards,

Raph de Rooij
E: post@raph.nl
M: +31 6 45025236


Op vr 10 dec. 2021 om 00:50 schreef Jeanne Spellman <
jspellman@spellmanconsulting.com>:

> Another solution would be to define the terms for our own use, but not try
> to put them in a normative glossary.
>
>
> On 12/9/2021 6:24 PM, Susana Pallero wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I agree with Peter. I think it is very important to differentiate both
> terms.
>
> But I understand the confusion when reading the ISO standards.
>
> Maybe a clarification including that may work?
> Adding something like "even though in several situations these terms are
> used interchangeably, for the W3C standards purpose they are well
> differentiated".
>
> On another note, I propose we change "cf conformance" for the entire word
> that shows the meaning. As a person that don't speak native English I use
> the browser's translator motor several times to read the W3C content and
> when used the "cf" is not translated and meaning is lost.
>
> Sorry I couldn't add this during our meeting but it was my first and
> didn't know I had to add the "Q+" on IRC chat to talk.
>
> Thanks so much for welcoming me today, it is a pleasure to be part of the
> team.
>
> Regards,
>
>
> On Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 7:01 PM Korn, Peter <pkorn@lab126.com> wrote:
>
>> Mary Jo, Katie,
>>
>>
>>
>> We may well be trying to hold back the tide, but I DO believe the
>> distinct is very important in our work, and I think it is valuable to make
>> a distinction, even if only for WCAG 3.  It may be that when WCAG 3 gets
>> “transposed” into other standards (e.g. EN 301 549) they will change or
>> drop those glossary entries.  But then again, what WCAG 2.x has done has
>> driven an awful lot of other things; maybe it will here as well.
>>
>>
>>
>> Peter
>>
>>
>>
>> P.S. I also know that one gets between Gregg and his arguments at one’s
>> peril!
>>
>> --
>>
>> Peter Korn (he/him/his) | Director, Accessibility | Amazon Lab126
>>
>> pkorn@amazon.com
>>
>>
>>
>> *From: *Katie Haritos-Shea <ryladog@gmail.com>
>> *Date: *Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 1:59 PM
>> *To: *Mary Jo Mueller <maryjom@us.ibm.com>
>> *Cc: *Silver Community Group <public-silver@w3.org>
>> *Subject: *RE: [EXTERNAL] [Conformance] Definition of Compliance vs.
>> conformance
>> *Resent-From: *<public-silver@w3.org>
>> *Resent-Date: *Thursday, December 9, 2021 at 1:57 PM
>>
>>
>>
>> *CAUTION*: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do
>> not click links or open attachments unless you can confirm the sender and
>> know the content is safe.
>>
>>
>>
>> I hear Gregg Vanderheiden in my ear saying "You comply with laws and
>> conform to standards" from years ago. Not sure he trumps standards
>> bodies....
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Dec 9, 2021, 4:45 PM Mary Jo Mueller <maryjom@us.ibm.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> After the meeting I was addressing some input from a colleague on
>> definitions and what is already defined and available in ISO and IEC
>> standards.  Since standards harmonization is a definite concern, it seems
>> there's a variety of usage and definition of "Compliance", "Comply",
>> "Conformance", Conform" and in ISO and IEC standards there are multiple
>> instances where the definition of one of these terms includes the other
>> term. So I'm not sure how successful we will be trying to tease apart terms
>> that have been clearly used interchangeably for a while.
>>
>> Here's a link to the ISO standards page where you can perform a search on
>> terms to see how they are defined and in what standards they are defined..
>>
>> · *ISO* Online Browsing Platform (OBP) https://www.iso.org/obp/uiand
>> select the *Terms & Definitions* radio button
>>
>> · *IEC* maintains its own platform, similar to ISO
>> https://www.electropedia.org/and check the *Search also in definitions*
>> checkbox.  For example:
>>
>>
>> For example from an IEC Internet of Things standard:
>>
>>
>> * compliance*
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> characteristic
>> <https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ievref=741-01-06> of
>> conformance to rules, such as those defined by a law, a regulation
>> <https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ievref=901-02-10>,
>> a standard
>> <https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ievref=901-02-02>,
>> or a policy
>>
>>
>>
>> So maybe we should just concede that these are used interchangeably and
>> use this definition.
>>
>> Best regards,
>>
>> Mary Jo
>> _____________________________________________
>> *Mary Jo Mueller*
>> Accessibility Standards Program Manager
>> IBM Accessibility
>>
>>
>>
>> "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and
>> become more, you are a leader." *~John Quincy Adams*
>>
>>