A standard is something used as a basis of comparison. Standards are mental pictures of what a person considers essential and necessary. They are more specific than either values or goals. They are definitely related to some particular thing, such as dress, food, or conduct. We may not know another person's values or goals, but we can observe another person's standards.
Standards stem from personal values and are usually accepted without conscious appraisal.
The achievement of certain standards depends on how we use our resources. Standards differ from family to family and from person to person within a family because each has different values. Standards are not easily changed. They tend to remain fixed because of the power of habit. Selecting family goals is the first step toward good management.