| "It is one thing to enact legislation, quite another to | | | | alternative, with maybe some government prodding to |
| enforce it." | | | | move things along. |
| - Bryce's Law | | | | But my biggest concern in terms of standards is their |
| Not long ago Shane "Locutus" Shields wrote an | | | | enforcement. I think we are now at a point in the I.T. |
| interesting blog entitled, "What is the use of | | | | industry where we must admit standards are useless |
| standards?" whereby he expressed his disillusionment | | | | without some form of automation to substantiate |
| with standards in the Information Technology (I.T.) field. | | | | adherence to them. Over the years I have seen |
| His discontent is not without precedence. Most of us | | | | numerous attempts at standardization in the I.T. field |
| have at one time or another yearned for standards in | | | | and those that are simply enforced by human |
| our work effort, only to be thwarted by the grim | | | | judgment, such as through a bureaucratic processes, |
| realities of an industry that doesn't like to embrace | | | | inevitably dies a slow death. Without some form of |
| standards. We all admit standards are a good idea | | | | automation to validate conformity to standards, the |
| and we should all be heading in that direction, | | | | human being will find a way to avoid complying with |
| someday... but that day never seems to come | | | | them. Sad, but true. |
| because there are forces at play deliberately resisting | | | | One of the benefits of growing older is that your |
| such efforts. | | | | hindsight becomes clearer. Although I have seen |
| First, the primary reason for standards is to seek | | | | numerous attempts at standardization in the I.T. field, it |
| some sort of conformity in our work effort. Such | | | | is hard to find any true standards as vendors have all |
| uniformity simplifies product development, maintenance, | | | | put their own unique spin on it. For example, COBOL |
| usability, and, God forbid, the interchangabiity of | | | | was intended to be the first universal programming |
| component parts. Standards materially improves | | | | language but this never happened as hardware |
| communications between people and saves time, | | | | manufacturers implemented their own nuances in their |
| simply because everyone has accepted and adapted | | | | compilers, thereby creating multiple interpretations of |
| to the standard, thereby causing them to communicate | | | | COBOL. Perhaps the only true standard I've come |
| on a common level (aka, "on the same page"). Imagine | | | | across in this industry was ASCII text which was |
| where the entertainment industry would be today if | | | | invented by Robert W. Beamer. |
| there were no standards in musical composition. | | | | Back in 1970 my father first called for industry-wide |
| People would have to reinvent the expression of | | | | standards for the development of systems. This was |
| music with each new song. But because we took the | | | | done at the annual convention of the old Data |
| time to develop standards, musical composition can be | | | | Processing Management Association (DPMA; now the |
| read and written by anyone on the planet. This also | | | | Association of Information Technology Professionals - |
| means standards can be taught and applied on a | | | | AITP). At the time, DPMA was a powerhouse in terms |
| universal basis. | | | | of size and resources and could have easily |
| Standards also provides a means to measure work | | | | undertaken such an effort but, unfortunately, balked at |
| effort, which is one reason why some people object | | | | doing so, as has numerous other industry associations. |
| to them. Instead of performing in a uniform manner | | | | One recent attempt has been the "Business Analysis |
| that can be compared and contrasted to others, some | | | | Body of Knowledge" (BABOK) by the International |
| I.T. people prefer nonconformity to cloak their work | | | | Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA), which is an |
| effort in secrecy, thereby clouding comparisons. The | | | | interesting set of tips and techniques, but is certainly no |
| excuse from such people is that they do not want to | | | | means a body of standards. For example, there is no |
| be "encumbered" or "stifled" by standards. In reality, | | | | defined conceptual foundation or glossary of terms |
| they are just trying to protect their job. | | | | defining such fundamental concepts as "system," |
| Without standards, cooperation and communications | | | | "business process," "procedure," "software," |
| between parties breaks down. From this we can | | | | "information," "data," etc. These are all taken for |
| deduce that standards is an inherent part of | | | | granted and it assumes everyone has the same |
| teamwork. Instead of the chaos involved in a | | | | interpretation (which they most certainly do not). |
| heterogeneous environment (where everyone is | | | | Although it is well meaning, it misses the mark. Without |
| allowed to "do their own thing"), standards offers the | | | | a conceptual foundation, the techniques embodied in |
| tranquility of a homogeneous environment where | | | | the document, are like trying to build an atomic bomb |
| people are all "rowing on the same oar" in a concerted | | | | without first knowing E = MC2. |
| manner. From this perspective, it could easily be | | | | CONCLUSION |
| argued that standards promotes productivity in the | | | | Standardization offers the benefits of uniformity, |
| workplace. This means standards require an intuitive | | | | predictability, interchangeability, and harmony. If this is |
| manager who understands the value of teamwork | | | | not of interest to you, than there is little point in trying to |
| and uniformity in work effort. Unfortunately, most | | | | participate in a standards program. But if you do wish |
| managers today still prefer "rugged individualism" | | | | to participate, understand there is more to implementing |
| instead, representing the antithesis of teamwork. | | | | standards than to just say "that's just how it is going to |
| Another problem facing standards is the reality that | | | | be done." There has to be some sound rationale for |
| whoever dominates market share becomes the de | | | | their governance. In addition, you must address the |
| facto standard and jealously defends it from intruders. | | | | enforcement issue. Standards will be adhered to by |
| We have seen this on more than one occasion in the | | | | the degree of discipline instilled in the staff; If well |
| I.T. field and frankly there is little we can be do about it. | | | | disciplined, your chances for success are good, but if |
| We could turn to government agencies to act as | | | | discipline is lax, automation is required to assure |
| arbitrators, but they have not proven to be an | | | | standards are being followed. |
| effective vehicle for the establishment of standards, at | | | | If you would like to discuss this with me in more depth, |
| least in the I.T. field. Instead, a coalition of industry | | | | please do not hesitate to send me an e-mail . |
| related companies would perhaps be a better | | | | |