Metastandard

Metastandard is a concept used to describe a higher-level standard that governs the creation and management of other standards. It functions as a framework for standardization programs, outlining principles, processes, and requirements that ensure consistency, interoperability, and accountability across multiple domains. The term is not tied to a single formal body and may be used differently by organizations, researchers, and policymakers.

Core objectives typically include establishing common governance structures, defining the lifecycle of standards (initiation, drafting, review, publication, revision, and sunset), and prescribing conformance criteria for standards documents themselves. A metastandard may also specify metadata, naming conventions, document structure, and versioning rules to facilitate traceability and reuse.

Typical components of a metastandard include: a governance model with defined stakeholders, decision rights, and review cycles; process requirements such as document templates, public consultation, and conflict of interest management; quality metrics addressing coverage, traceability, and reproducibility; and alignment rules across domains to support terminology harmonization, reference integrity, and interoperability.

Adoption of a metastandard can lead to greater harmonization of standards programs, reduced duplication, clearer accountability, and smoother interoperability when different standards are mapped to common meta-criteria. Potential drawbacks include increased administrative overhead, possible rigidity, and the challenge of achieving broad consensus among diverse communities.

Related concepts include meta-standards in information management and governance models for standards organizations. Some organizations use a metastandard approach to coordinate international standards development, though there is no single universal metastandard codified by any major standards body.