There is a hierarchy for the approach to the advancement of standards within an organization. The preferred order of this hierarchy is:

The hierarchy for the advancement of standards within an organization prioritizes the sequence in which changes or improvements should be made. The correct order is to first adopt existing standards, then adapt those standards to fit the specific needs of the organization, and finally, develop new standards if necessary.

Adopting means integrating established standards that have proven effective elsewhere, allowing the organization to benefit from established best practices without needing to reinvent the wheel. Following this, adaptation comes into play, where the adopted standards may be modified to align with the specific context or requirements of the organization. This ensures that the standards are not only relevant but also practical for the particular environment in which they will be applied. Finally, developing new standards is the last step, reserved for situations where existing standards do not meet the need, allowing the organization to innovate and create standards uniquely tailored to its circumstances.

This approach emphasizes leveraging existing frameworks before making changes, ensuring a solid foundation before moving to more complex solutions.