Effectiveness metrics and cost benefit analysis methodology for machine-to-machine interoperability standards
Wolfgang Baer · Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2009
When to implement a standard and how much benefit would result from its implementation is often a seat of the pants value judgment. We will address lack of cost/benefit metrics for interoperability standards by presenting a generalized model of the interoperability problem which defines the tasks required to implement an NxN matrix of interoperating system types. The model is then used to assess the work load required to achieve interoperability and quantify the extent to which the introduction of standards reduces the work load as a function of delineated standards characteristics. Characteristics such as format, execution, speed, bandwidth, and, must notably knowledge definition mechanisms are delineated. Standards effectiveness in terms of task costs are then estimated as a function of standards characteristics, latent ambiguities, and number interoperating nodes. Use case studies of several standards and guidelines for standards effectiveness evaluation will be discussed.