This page presents the 4 options in a chart form for easier comparison.

The Four Options

Design Driven - most UX research, leads to most usable and effective Silver over time
Faster Progress - most effective in making progress, reaches REC the fastest
Flexibility - results in Silver that is responsive to changing technology and is easy to change and update
Low Cost - cost the least in terms of money (closest option to the status quo)

Comparison Table

Comparison of Silver Options
Method	Design Driven	Faster Progress	Most Flexible	Low Cost
Phase 1 - Discovery
Stakeholder Map	Exhaustive: includes all roles with vested interest Descriptive: shows roles and relationships Iterative: evolves over process	Also reach Stakeholders beyond W3C circles	Emphasis on outreach to developers and more diverse sources	Outreach to the usual WAI stakeholders plus other names and contacts from the WCAG WG.
Survey	Targeted: customized for different roles Credible: valid from a research perspective	Professional. Multiple surveys for different groups	Professional. Multiple surveys for different groups	Silver subgroup creates a survey that is promoted through the usual W3C channels
Stakeholder Interviews	Comprehensive: engages many perspectives Structured: designed to answer key questions Personal: phone and in-person interviews	Phone interviews Develop relationship used throughout the process more focused	Phone interviews Develop relationship used throughout the process more open-ended, casting a wider net	Phone interviews with key stakeholders by the Silver Sub-group
Contextual Inquiry	Comprehensive: addresses multiple roles Structured: designed to answer key questions Unstructured: also open-ended, for unexpected insights Personal: in-person observation	N/A	N/A	N/A
Self Reporting	Comprehensive: addresses multiple roles Structured: designed to answer key questions	a few stakeholders asked to keep a diary Open ended Used to gather insights Lighter-weight, less emphasis.	a few stakeholders asked to keep a diary Open ended Used to gather insights	N/A
Secondary Research - Organizations	Exploratory: looks into broad range of similar efforts, including those external to W3C and unrelated to digital accessibility Summative: comprehensive analysis and articulation	Outreach to other W3C WG and standards organizations with track record of faster progress	Outreach to other W3C WG and standards organizations with track record of greater flexibility	Informal conversations where relationships exist
WCAG Analysis	Investigative: includes full breadth of WCAG components Summative: comprehensive analysis and articulation	N/A	Systemic examination of components and process of WCAG today.	Discussion on the WCAG WG email list
Analysis of WCAG Adaptations	Investigative: includes broad range of WCAG adaptations Summative: comprehensive analysis and articulation	Study what other groups have done for insight	Study what other groups have done for insight	Make a list of insights from popular WCAG adaptations
Literature Review	Investigative: includes broad range of WCAG research Summative: comprehensive analysis and articulation	N/A	Investigative: includes broad range of WCAG research Summative: comprehensive analysis and articulation	N/A
Communication	Thorough: In-depth report of Discovery phase, including summary	List of topics for W3C Workshop Paper Submissions Summary report of Discovery phase	Summary report of Discovery phase	Summary list of insights for next phase
Phase 2 - Interpretation
Case Studies	Comprehensive: addresses multiple roles and multiple uses Detailed: illustrates roles and usage	N/A	High-coverage of varied perspectives	N/A
Personas	Comprehensive: addresses multiple roles and multiple uses Detailed: illustrates roles and usage	Brief, focused on aspects relevant to Silver	High-coverage of varied perspectives	Minimal persona feeding user stories
User Stories	Comprehensive: addresses multiple roles and multiple uses Detailed: illustrates roles and usage	More extensive than Personas, used to evaluate in Experimentation and Production phases	High-coverage of varied perspectives	minimal used to validate Silver decision-making
Analysis / inventory / grouping	Informed: done by those who participate closely in discovery phase activities Participatory: done in person	Part of 1 day F2F meeting of Sub-group	Sub-group meeting activity	Multiple 1/2 day teleconferences or small F2F (most of the meeting would be on user stories, brainstorming ideas and discussing prototypes. No inventory or grouping)
Report	Defining: provides common themes to be addressed Comprehensive: includes case studies, personas, and user stories	Product of F2F meeting of Sub-group Report becomes a paper for W3C Workshop	Product of F2F meeting of Sub-group	Product of teleconferences
Phase 3 - Ideation
F2F Workshop	Participatory: run using Design Studio methodology Comprehensive: engages many perspectives	W3C Workshop (F2F) Participants apply by writing a paper on a topic from Sub-group Travel budget available 2 days - D1 Ideation, D2 Experimentation	N/A	Sub-group F2F or multiple 1/2 day teleconferences
Online Workshop	Comprehensive: engages many perspectives	N/A	Yes	N/A
Hybrid F2F online	Comprehensive: engages many perspectives	N/A	Yes	N/A
Surveys / questionnaires	Comprehensive: engages many perspectives	N/A	Highly structured set of surveys and questionnaires	Public survey created by Silver Sub-group
Choosing	Informed: done by those who participate closely in Silver process	Strawman, non-binding vote at Workshop and consensus of Sub-Group	Optional of working group to confirm sub-group's choice	Consensus of Silver sub-group
Phase 4 - Experimentation
Create Prototypes	Informed: done by those who participate closely in Silver process	D2 of W3C Workshop Small groups build prototypes, discuss and refine Workshop report includes pros and cons of each prototype	The Sub-group will create prototypes covering: Content in and scope of Silver Structure of Silver Maintenance of Silver over time	Individual build models based on teleconference discussion
A/B/C Testing	Clarifying: helps identify strengths of multiple viable options	N/A	As warranted by differing prototypes	N/A
User Journeys	Informed: done by those who participate closely in Silver process	Part of Workshop, or completed by Sub-group	Completed by the Sub-group	Completed by the Sub-group
Focus Groups	Clarifying: helps identify strengths of multiple viable options	N/A	N/A	N/A
Desirability Testing	Public online survey - broad participation	Public online survey - broad participation	Public online survey - broad participation	Public online survey - notification on the W3C email lists and twitter
Refine Prototypes	Refining: incorporates insights to improve outcome	if needed desperately	Based on user testing	Minimal
Choosing	Informed: done by those who participate closely in Silver process	Recommendation is part of the Workshop Report	Recommendation of Subgroup	Consensus of Subgroup
Phase 5 - Production & Evolution
Establish Resources	Budget for face-to-face meetings Research expertise for surveys and analysis	Scheduling a multi-day Task Force F2F meeting specifically for drafting the FPWD.	Established via prototyping.	request participation on W3C email lists
Establish Partnerships	Research expertise for surveys and analysis	Asking W3C members to contribute an employee's fulltime effort as a W3C fellow dedicated to Silver Donate money for hiring a full-time project manager for Silver and travel budgets for F2F meetings	Established via prototyping.	N/A
Identifying Key People	Support and expertise for facilitation of process activities Ongoing support for Silver	Hiring a full-time editor, similar to what was done for HTML5	Established via prototyping.	Identify editors
Forming a Task Force	Forming a subgroup to work on Silver that includes subject matter expertise on design methods and user research	Forming an official Silver Task Force (if that has not already been done) Task Force Facilitator(s) Re-charter as needed	Forming an official Silver Task Force (if that has not already been done) Task Force Facilitator(s) Re-charter as needed	Task force with facilitators and editors
Setting Milestones	Dates for reporting Dates for choosing	More granular, public milestones decision policy that protects minorities, but discourages extensive debate	More granular, public milestones Ongoing incremental milestones	Charter milestones
Crowdsourcing	N/A	N/A	Heavily and continuously used	N/A
F2F Writing Meetings	Meetings for Silver subgroup to work on Silver	Yes. Maximize dedicated time and F2F discussion for speed and quality of work	Yes. Maximize dedicated time and F2F discussion for management of work	weekly teleconferences and bi monthly 1/2 day teleconferences
Spec Creation Distributed to individual writers	Silver subgroup members take responsibility for sections	As little as possible	As little as possible	The normal way work gets done.