1.1 Characteristics of standards
7
Hierarchy of standards
Every standard has its typical level of detail that must be agreed upon before the
work starts. Usually the IT-domain recognises three levels: abstract, implementation,
and interface. Standards at the abstract level are independent of operating systems,
applications, hardware, and encodings. Standards at the implementation level determine encoding. Standards at the interface level determine hardware or hardwareoriented software, often called firmware. As a general principle, ISO standards reside
at the abstract level. Most industry standards are at the implementation level or the
interface level.
Classification perspective
The following section demonstrates an alternative approach to open up the subject
of standardisation. This approach defines a grouping of standards that covers far
more than the formal standards addressed by the ISO. In fact, the intent is to be able
to include any technical rules applicable in industry and administration. This grouping is hierarchically organized in two levels.
Table 1.1. Classification of standards (Kim et a1. 2002)
Top level
Level of coverage
Levelof
prescriptiveness
Function
Bottom level
International
Multinational, Regional
National
Local
Recommended practice
Information report
Standard
Design standards
Interface standards
Explanation
leads to an advisory document
informative document
normative document
focus on user consistency in respect to
product structure and appearance. Examples for design standards are zip
codes and metadata. They still leave
reasonable room for innovation
facilitate the interconnection of components or adjoining systems like
communication protocols and plug
compatibilities
7
Hierarchy of standards
Every standard has its typical level of detail that must be agreed upon before the
work starts. Usually the IT-domain recognises three levels: abstract, implementation,
and interface. Standards at the abstract level are independent of operating systems,
applications, hardware, and encodings. Standards at the implementation level determine encoding. Standards at the interface level determine hardware or hardwareoriented software, often called firmware. As a general principle, ISO standards reside
at the abstract level. Most industry standards are at the implementation level or the
interface level.
Classification perspective
The following section demonstrates an alternative approach to open up the subject
of standardisation. This approach defines a grouping of standards that covers far
more than the formal standards addressed by the ISO. In fact, the intent is to be able
to include any technical rules applicable in industry and administration. This grouping is hierarchically organized in two levels.
Table 1.1. Classification of standards (Kim et a1. 2002)
Top level
Level of coverage
Levelof
prescriptiveness
Function
Bottom level
International
Multinational, Regional
National
Local
Recommended practice
Information report
Standard
Design standards
Interface standards
Explanation
leads to an advisory document
informative document
normative document
focus on user consistency in respect to
product structure and appearance. Examples for design standards are zip
codes and metadata. They still leave
reasonable room for innovation
facilitate the interconnection of components or adjoining systems like
communication protocols and plug
compatibilities