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. Standards are neither necessary nor sufficient in this context, but one of the tools for building a market presence and influence. Finally, as standards move into the view of the customers, the participants in the standards process have a path to the customer, providing insight and guidance based on the standards experience. Customer confidence and purchasing is governed by a combination of the value of the standard and the credibility that suppliers have in terms of delivering that value.
Vendors can gain insight by looking at the standards from the consumer perspective.
Answers will differ, both by the area of consideration and by the individual making the decision. Example Users will experience the benefits and costs of applying standards in addressing the year 2000 problems. The prevalent use of standard Cobol will make it easier to deal with corrections, while the lack of strategic application of software engineering standards makes the changes necessary. Incentives for standards users complement those of the provider. Clear communications about capabilities, confidence in functional characteristics, and participation in the larger size market benefit the consumer.