Standardization processes follow a number of logical consecutive
steps[5.1], usually starting with the recognition of a market need for a new
specification or standard, or for the improvement or extension of an
existing one. Although not all standardization processes and process steps
take an equal amount of time, and although many specifications or standards
are being upgraded through regular maintenance cycles, this generally means
that for each standards or specification there is a specific window of
opportunity
open to contributions. This means that in order to make
effective contributions to standardization, you should establish a good
understanding of the roadmap for the particular standards process you're
aiming at and ensure that your project's work plan foresees the delivery of
results that are meant to become input in this process, within the right
timeframe. Not synchronizing your work plan with a standards organization's
roadmap in this way may generate a considerably higher time and resource
requirement for achieving identical (standardization) results.