The value of the formal standards process

The purpose of this article is to critique the process of developing formal standards, which are those that have been approved by an official standards-making body. The bodies that impact US computer standards most include the International Standards Organization (ISO), the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). Other groups develop important standards that are outside the formal process. These include the Open Software Foundation (OSF), X/Open, and the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The main difference between a formal standards organization and the other groups is the legal framework in which the body operates. The formal organizations are often chartered by the government with strict procedures and rules imposed on the standards development process. OSF and X/Open are each directed by a board of directors, whereas the IETF is an independent, self-governing body that develops its own rules and procedures