Technical Standard

A Technical Standard is a formal specification that defines technical requirements (for repeatable tasks).

• Context:
  • It can typically provide Standard Functions through formal specifications:
    • Standard Input: technical requirements, specification parameters, compliance criteria
    • Standard Output: conformance measures, certification results, validation status
    • Standard Performance Measure: adoption rate, compliance level, implementation success
  • ...
  • It can typically define Technical Requirements through specification documents.
  • It can typically establish Technical Procedures through process guidelines.
  • It can typically specify Technical Criteria through requirement definitions.
  • It can typically maintain Standard Evolution through version control.
  • ...
  • It can often facilitate Industry Adoption through consensus building.
  • It can often enable Interoperability through standardized interfaces.
  • It can often support Quality Assurance through testing procedures.
  • It can often provide Certification Process through compliance testing.
  • ...
  • It can range from being a Voluntary Standard to being a Mandatory Standard, depending on its enforcement level.
  • It can range from being a National Standard to being an International Standard, depending on its geographic scope.
  • It can range from being an Industry Standard to being a Government Standard, depending on its authority source.
  • It can range from being a Simple Specification to being a Complex Framework, depending on its standard scope.
  • ...
  • It can be developed by a Standard Organization.
  • It can be validated through Compliance Testing.
  • It can be certified via Standard Certification.
  • It can be updated through Standard Revision.
  • ...
• Examples:
  • Technical Protocols, such as:
    • Communication Protocols, such as:
      • TCP/IP Standard for network communication.
      • HTTP Standard for web communication.
    • Integration Protocols, such as:
      • API Standard for system integration.
      • Data Exchange Standard for information transfer.
  • Industry Standards, such as:
    • Hardware Standards, such as:
      • USB Standard for device connectivity.
      • HDMI Standard for audio-visual interface.
    • Software Standards, such as:
      • Programming Language Standard for code specification.
      • File Format Standard for data storage.
  • Process Standards, such as:
    • Quality Standards, such as:
      • ISO 9001 for quality management.
      • Six Sigma Standard for process improvement.
    • Safety Standards, such as:
      • IEC Safety Standard for electrical safety.
      • OSHA Standard for workplace safety.
  • ...
• Counter-Examples:
  • Social Conventions, which lack formal specifications.
  • Corporate Policys, which are organization-specific rather than industry-wide.
  • Best Practices, which suggest rather than require specific implementations.
• See: Standard Organization, Technical Specification, Compliance Testing, Industry Standard, Protocol Standard.

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References

2022

• (Wikipedia, 2022) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/technical_standard Retrieved:2022-1-3.
  • A technical standard is an established norm or requirement for a repeatable technical task which is applied to a common and repeated use of rules, conditions, guidelines or characteristics for products or related processes and production methods, and related management systems practices. A technical standard includes definition of terms; classification of components; delineation of procedures; specification of dimensions, materials, performance, designs, or operations; measurement of quality and quantity in describing materials, processes, products, systems, services, or practices; test methods and sampling procedures; or descriptions of fit and measurements of size or strength. It is usually a formal document that establishes uniform engineering or technical criteria, methods, processes, and practices. In contrast, a custom, convention, company product, corporate standard, and so forth that becomes generally accepted and dominant is often called a de facto standard. A technical standard may be developed privately or unilaterally, for example by a corporation, regulatory body, military, etc. Standards can also be developed by groups such as trade unions and trade associations. Standards organizations often have more diverse input and usually develop voluntary standards: these might become mandatory if adopted by a government (i.e., through legislation), business contract, etc. The standardization process may be by edict or may involve the formal consensus of technical experts.

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