For example, Figure 1 is the classic market curve. Ongoing evolution of these standards and their adoption at the international level have provided for ongoing market growth and increased acceptance. We see this with the ongoing, albeit slow, evolution of standards for Cobol , Fortran, and CD-ROMs. In mature areas, standards can be augmented to address specific niche segments and opportunities. If the market is not measured in the billions, or targeted as an investment over many years, it is probably not a candidate for standards.
Standards establish a clear communication of capability between the customer and the supplier.
In some areas, customers are a driving force behind standards, and in other areas, they participate to ensure their needs are met. Standards do not happen without some industry investment. In areas where product development proceeds concurrently with standards development, participants have an inside view of the changes and issues that will affect conformance. Also, participants have a voice in the process to ensure that the standard accommodates their plans and are not unnecessarily limiting. Proactive players can help to set the tone, as well as the content, of both the standards and the resulting market environment.