This illustration provides a map to the different organizations currently developing standards for the Web.  These organizations can be divided into those that develop standards for the infrastructure of the Web, those that develop standards that enable interoperability, and those that develop standards that have a special purpose or serve a particular business function.

Three organizations that develop infrastructure standards are the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the International Standards Organization (ISO) and Internet Electronic Task Force (IETF).  We usually think of W3C as the organization responsible for Web infrastructure standards.  And, in fact, a vast majority of the infrastructure standards come from the W3C.  But ISO is responsible for SGML and Topic Maps.  And IETF is responsible for standards such as HTTP.

Many organizations develop standards that focus on interoperability.  OASIS clearly focuses on interoperability.  They have developed the XML table model (based on the earlier SGML table model) and are actively involved in both ebXML and interoperability initiatives.  DISA, the Digital Information Standards Association, also focuses on interoperability standards.  Currently XML/EDI as well as ANSI EDI activities are hosted by DISA.  The National Information Standards Organization also works to provide standards that focus on interoperability.

XML application standards are typically developed by industry groups or a neutral standards development body such as IDEAlliance.  For example, the Air Transport Association has developed a family of standards to support airline documentation.  Likewise the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) develops standards specific to the automotive industry.  IDEAlliance actively hosts XML application standards that do not have a particular industry home.  For example, IDEAlliance hosts the activities of the ICE Authoring Group and those developing Customer Profile Exchange standards.