Diagram: From an idea to a standard
On the one hand, the public; on the other, W3C Members.
Each contribute differently to the standardisation process.
Standards progress this way:
A standard may originate from a W3C Workshop or incubation in a W3C Community Group. Both are open to the public and W3C Members.
Based on consensus, a W3C Working Group can be created.
A standard may originate from a W3C Member Submission, without requiring incubation or discussion at a Workshop.
When a Working Group is created, W3C Members nominate one or more participants and agree to to make available under W3C RF licensing requirements any Essential Claims related to the work of that particular Working Group.
Members of the public participate as Invited Experts.
During the standardisation process, Members of the W3C contribue reviews, tests and implementations. The Public contributes comments during phases of public review.
After 3 to 6 years on average, a Web standard is born when a technology reaches the status of Recommendations. Everyone parties like mad [drawing of confettis] W3C Members contribute to press releases and perform promotion.
The public and the Members help with the translation effort as well as maintenance via errata.