Talk:De facto standard
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[edit] Consensual definition
It is necessary to fix here a good (scientific) and consensual definition, valid to all encyclopedic uses of de facto standard concept into the Wikipedia.
- Suggestion 1
- A de facto standard is a product, process, or system used as solution for a coordination problem, and that has achieved a dominant position.
- Problem: introduce a very formal concept (from game theory), but it is scientific and encyclopedic.
- Suggestion 2
- A de facto standard is a product, process, or system that has achieved a dominant position.
- Problem: what kind of "product, process, or system"? (need define to close the definition). "Dominant" about what context?
- Suggestion 3
- A de facto standard is a standard (formal or informal) that has achieved a dominant position, like a tradition.
- Problem: ??
Please vote (suggestion number, user name, date):
- I prefer 3. I don't think coordination problem should be mentioned in the definition of de facto standard. The idea of a coordination problem is one possible explanation of why standards end up being adopted, but I'm not sure it's the only one, and anyway it should be part of the discussion, not part of the definition. --Rinconsoleao (talk) 13:45, 18 February 2008 (UTC)
- I vote 3. It is less formal than 1, less "open" than 2, and more informative. --Krauss (talk) 21:56, 18 February 2008 (UTC)
- I vote #3 also. #1 is too confusing to the average mind, and #2 tries to include too much and isn't "tight" enough. ... discospinster talk 22:17, 18 February 2008 (UTC)
- #3 is self contradictory. It says that a standard is either formal or informal, yet that page is limited to only formal engineering documents. A "de facto standard" does not have to be a formal document: it can be a product, process or system. Only a small number of formal technical stadnards become "de facto standards" and dominate the market. I vote for # 2 for clarity. Rlsheehan (talk) 00:00, 19 February 2008 (UTC) If people like aspects of #2, then consider: ;Suggestion 4: A de facto standard is an established norm or requirement (formal or informal) that has achieved a dominant position, like a tradition. Rlsheehan (talk) 15:28, 19 February 2008 (UTC)
End of votation (23 Feb 2008).
I have used this input to improve the intro paragraph. It seems to read well. Rlsheehan (talk) 16:51, 23 February 2008 (UTC)
