The success of a product in many cases is dependent on international standards. The ability to understand standards, identify key issues and adopt successful strategy can have major effect. Equally important is to know what can be realistically achieved within particular forums given the diverse business interests of the participants.

For smaller companies the emphasis may be to passively monitor standards. Here assistance may be required to explain the details, receive advance warning of major changes or simply to have a presence at key meetings.

Larger companies may aspire to proactively influence the standards and this requires a major step up in class and ability. International standards are intended primarily as technically driven, objective work-groups, however whilst this is still partly true, the key players attempt to drive strategy, for commercial advantage. One person with a great solution, when faced with 20 organised people supporting a lucrative but mediocre solution, will probably lose.

To make progress in standards, Crisp telecom can help you to understand the players and develop an effective “street-wise” strategy that will lead to consensus.