Matrix For Selection Of Standards
Background
A wide range of standards are available which seek to ensure that networked services are platform and application-independent, accessibility, interoperable and are suitable for re-purposing.
But how does one go about selecting appropriate open standards, especially, as described below, some open standards may fail to reach maturity? This briefing document describes an approach which can support the selection process.
Challenges
Although use of recommended standards and best practices is encouraged, there may be occasions when this is not possible:
- Building on existing systems: Projects may be based on development of existing systems, which do not use appropriate standards.
- Standards immature: Some standards may be new, and there is a lack of experience in their use. Although some organisations may relish the opportunity to be early adopters of new standards, others may prefer to wait until the benefits of the new standards have been established and many teething problems resolved.
- Functionality of the standard: Does the new standard provide functionality which is required for the service to be provided?
- Limited support for standards: There may be limited support for the new standards. For example, there may be a limited range of tools for creating resources based on the new standards or for viewing the resources.
- Limited expertise: There may be limited expertise for developing services based on new standards or there may be limited assistance to call on in case of problems.
- Limited timescales: There may be insufficient time to gain an understanding of new standards and gain experience in use of tools.
In many cases standards will be mature and expertise readily available. The selection of the standards to be deployed can be easily made. What should be done when this isn't the case?
A Matrix Approach
In light of the challenges which may be faced when wishing to make use of recommended standards and best practices it is suggested that organisations use a matrix approach to resolving these issues.
| Area | Your Comments |
| Standard | |
| How mature is the standard? | |
| Does the standard provide required functionality? | |
| Implementation | |
| Are authoring tools which support the standard readily available? | |
| Are viewing tools which support the standard readily available? | |
| Organisation | |
| Is your organisational culture suitable for deployment of the standard? | |
| Are there strategies in place to continue development in case of staffing changes? | |
Organisations will need to formulate their own matrix which covers issues relevant to their particular project, funding, organisation, etc.
Implementation
This matrix approach is not intended to provide a definitive solution to the selection of standards. Rather it is intended as a tool which can assist organisations when they go through the process of choosing the standards they intend to use. It is envisaged that development work will document their comments on issues such as those listed above. These comments should inform a discussion within the development team, and possibly with the project's advisory or steering group. Once a decision has been made the rationale for the decision should be documented. This will help to ensure that the reasonings are still available if members of the development team leave.
For examples of how projects have addressed the selection of standards can see:
- ESDS Web Standards Policy case study
<http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/qa-focus/documents/case-studies/case-study-16/> - Standards for e-learning: The e-MapScholar Experience case study
<http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/qa-focus/documents/case-studies/case-study-05/>
