Most W3C work revolves around the standardization of Web technologies. To accomplish this work, W3C follows processes that promote the development of high-quality standards based on the consensus of the community. W3C processes promote fairness, responsiveness, and progress, all facets of the W3C mission.

Intro to Standards

The W3C technical report development process is the set of steps and requirements followed by W3C Working Groups to standardize Web technology. Through this process, W3C seeks to maximize consensus about the content of a technical report, to ensure high technical and editorial quality, to promote consistency among specifications, and to earn endorsement by W3C and the broader community. Learn more in the introduction to the W3C Process.

Input to the W3C standards process may come from a variety of places, including:

• W3C Workshops
• Incubator Groups
• Member Submissions
• Team Submissions

Value of Creating Standards at W3C

W3C continues to evolve to provide the community a productive environment for creating Web standards. W3C offers:

• a large, international community of passionate thinkers;
• a well-defined, Royalty-Free Patent Policy;
• a full-time staff of world experts on Web technology, including the inventor of the Web as the Director of the organization;
• an effective infrastructure and tools to facilitate meetings and the creation of documents;
• over 15 years of experience in standards development embodied by a well-defined and maintained process that evolves as community needs change.

Business Case for Standards

Here is a selection of community viewpoints on the value of Web Standards. Please let us know if you know of other useful resources.

• A Standards Quality Case Study: W3C, Arnaud Le Hors
• Business Case for Open Standards, Erik Silman
• The Business Value of Web Standards, Jeffrey Veen
• What are the advances of using standards?, Web Standards Project
• Business Case for Web Standards Wiki
• Developing a Web Accessibility Business Case for Your Organization: Overview , W3C Web Accessibility Initiative
• Making the business case for web standards, Web Access Strategies
• CSS Talking Points: Selling Clients on Web Standards, Greg Kise