A Broader View On Some Forces Shaping Standardisation

Kai Jakobs, Aachen University Computer Science Department, Informatik IV

1/01/2005
(Original Publish Date: 2001)

The paper tries to unveil and discuss some rather more economic aspects inherent to standards and standardisation, as seen form a non-economist's perspective. What would happen if it were solely up to the market to standardise? What are the motivations behind corporate activities in standards setting processes, which are, after all, costly and tend to be frustratingly slow? Why would users want to have standards? Answers to these questions are given based on a critical literature review, combined with insights obtained from a recent survey. And finally, how could today's processes be modified to take into account all those economic aspects? A proposal is made in response to this question.