Start a Standard when the organization needs one authoritative rule rather than another reference document. Write for the person who must act: lead with the requirement, then add enough context to apply it correctly.
- 1
Create the draft
Open Standards, choose New Standard, and give the rule a clear working title.
- 2
State the decision
Put the required behavior or boundary before background and supporting detail.
- 3
Add context
Explain scope, exceptions, and links to relevant Knowledge without duplicating entire sources.
- 4
Review before publishing
Check ownership, visibility, and whether the wording can be followed without private context.
Keep one governing subject
A reader should be able to tell what the Standard decides from its title and opening paragraph. Split unrelated requirements into separate Standards when they have different owners, audiences, review cycles, or reasons for changing.
Write the rule before the rationale
Long introductions hide the action. State who must do what and under which conditions. Use later sections for rationale, examples, definitions, and references.
Work safely in a draft
Editing a draft does not silently replace the active revision. Collaborators can comment while the current published version continues to govern. Publishing creates a new immutable revision in the history.
Prepare the ownership decision
Every active Standard needs a named owner reached through a responsibility Role. If that person is not clear, resolve accountability before publication instead of using a generic team label.
Next: Choose an owner or publish the revision.
A useful writing check before publication
Read the draft as someone who was not in the decision meeting. The opening should state what is required, who or what it applies to, and any condition that changes the rule. Use plain headings for distinct parts of the decision. Put background, examples, and source material after the rule or link to Knowledge rather than making the reader search for the conclusion.
Check dates, names, links, and exceptions. Remove wording that leaves two reasonable interpretations. Finally, confirm that the selected owner can maintain the subject and that the visibility includes the people expected to follow it.