Problem: Multiple Incompatible Specifications

[Daniel O. Awduche]

Advancing multiple incompatible specifications addressing the 
same requirements is a disservice to the industry. 

Such actions diminish the wider impacts of "standardization," 
induce an unnecessary and avoidable partition in the market, 
increase the *real* cost of business, and diminish end user 
choice (rather than enhance it).

If requirements differ, but overlap, then it is realistic
to advance incompatible specifications. In that case, however, 
reasonable best effort should be made to reuse commonalities 
if at all possible.

This does not preclude the need, as occasion warrants, for 
experimental specifications, and informational documents 
highlighting proprietary solutions.

Cheers,
/Dan