PAS 124:2008

PAS 124:2008 is now withdrawn and is replaced by PAS 124:2011.

PAS 124 Defining, implementing and managing website standards: A statement of best practice is a Publicly Available Specification (PAS) that has been developed by Magus in collaboration with The British Standards Institution (BSI).

PAS 124 provides guidance for best practice in defining, implementing and managing website standards in companies and organizations. This PAS is aimed at public and private organizations with public websites, intranets or extranets, specifically:

• Organizations considering, planning, or in the process of developing website standards
• Organizations with existing website standards wishing to align themselves with best practice methodologies.

Who would find PAS 124 of interest?

This PAS can be used by anyone who manages, or has responsibility for a website or a multi-site web presence. This could include:

• Global/corporate communications teams
• Marketing teams
• Brand guardians
• Website managers
• External agencies responsible for defining and/or managing web and brand guidelines
• IT managers, especially those involved in setting up a Content Management System (CMS)framework
• Legal/Compliance/IT risk teams.

This PAS outlines a best practice approach to website standards throughout the website life cycle, starting with the initial planning and definition stage. However, it is important to note that website standards are never static. They continually evolve to meet changing internal and external requirements, and can be usefully addressed at any point in the website life cycle.

Website standards are the library of standards specified by an organization to govern the content, function, and appearance of their website or group of websites. Managed effectively, they deliver tangible performance and operational benefits.

However, defining, implementing and managing website standards presents organizations with common logistical challenges. Many organizations are also unaware of the extent to which they should be defining website standards, and the benefits they deliver.

PAS 124 is a 36-page document sets out a best practice approach to defining, implementing and managing website standards. It provides a framework to help organizations deploy website standards efficiently and harness their full potential.

This PAS has five main parts:

• Defining website standards): Setting scope, gathering information and requirements, specifying and documenting standards
• Implementing website standards: Deploying and communicating standards
• Managing website standards: Supporting editors, process and governance, monitoring, measurement and review
• Guide to the key categories of website standards
• Useful sources of information.

PAS 124 is not to be regarded as a British Standard.

PAS 124 can be downloaded from the BSI Shop or you can order a hard copy version.

Website standards are used to govern the content, function and appearance of a company’s web estate.  They include both standards defined by organisations (e.g. brand and editorial standards), and standards specified by external bodies (e.g. legal and accessibility standards).  Managed effectively, these standards are powerful tools for regulating the process of website creation and publication and deliver tangible performance and operational benefits.

However, the scope and diversity of website standards present organisations with common logistical challenges. PAS 124 addresses these challenges by providing the first-ever procedural framework to help organisations deploy website standards efficiently and harness their full potential.

Contents of PAS 124 includes:

• Introduction
• Scope
• Terms and definitions
• Defining website standards
• When should website standards be defined?
• Definition workflow
• Planning
• Auditing and collating existing material
• Gathering user requirements
• Stakeholder consultation and management
• Specification of standards
• Pre-publication validation
• Standards sign-off
• Implementing website standards
• Impact of the publication framework
• Lock-down vs. flexibility
• Phased roll-out
• Communicating website standards
• Managing website standards
• Ongoing support
• Reviewing and updating
• Process and governance
• Monitoring and measurement
• Guide to the key categories of website standards
• Useful sources of information
• Bibliography

Acknowledgement is given to the following organizations that were consulted in the development of this specification:

• Institute of Directors
• The Institution of Engineering and Technology
• Interbrand
• Localization Industry Standards Association (LISA)
• SDL PLC
• Shell International B.V.
• Unilever PLC

Wider comments from other parties were invited by BSI. The expert contributions made from organizations and individuals consulted in the development of this PAS are gratefully acknowledged.

This PAS has been prepared and published by BSI, which retains its ownership and copyright. BSI reserves the right to withdraw or amend this PAS on receipt of authoritative advice that it is appropriate to do so.

This PAS will be reviewed at intervals not exceeding two years, and any amendments arising from the review will be published as an amended PAS and publicized in Update Standards.

This PAS does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with this PAS does not of itself confer immunity from legal obligations.