Time

The duration of a standards project measured from the origin of the idea through the completion of a standard that has reached the desired end point.  A desirable characteristic of most standards projects is a "Fast" time.  That is to say it is usually desirable to complete a standards project quickly, in contrast to a lengthily drawn out process.

Resources

The combined value of project budgets, salaries, travel, others' contributions, and lost opportunity costs of the efforts devoted to the task of developing and completing the standard.  A  characteristic of many standards projects is a "low" budget.  That is to say that standards projects are often times relegated to lower priorities than many other business exigencies competing for management attention and the dedication of resources

 Quality

Quality is a fuzzy surrogate for a cluster of characteristics   including the degree of utilization of the standard; the degree of consensus achieved in the development of the standard; and the techncial excellence of the standard

Interaction between key characteristics of any Standards Development process

  Desirable Characteristic

Combination A

Combination B

Combination C

Fast Time

Yes

Yes

No

Low Resources

Yes

No

Yes

High Quality

No

Yes

Yes