Some Limitations of Standards 1. Most standards are prepared by representatives of manufactureres, consumers, government agencies, and scientific, technical, and professional organizations, and are arrived at by a consensus among the various individuals. They tend to be the minimum requirements on which often conflicting the parties can agree. Tailored Many parts of a standard may not apply to the system being developed. The tailoring process usually is accompanied by an explanation about why certain parts of the standard are not applicable.
Standards are general, specifications apply to specific systems or contexts.
Do Not Explain the Systems-Engineering Process Standards are usually only concerned with the design of the elements of a system, and have nothing to say about other important phases of system development. Guidelines Design guidelines, including checklists, are generally stated suggestions and recommendations for design. Standards are generally used by governments and organizations to enforce certain design strategies or constraints. They are usually intended to be enforceable or verifiable, in the sense that one can see whether or not the standard is actually met by a system. Guidelines are intended for guidance, not enforcement.