[ Prescriptive ]

I work in an industry that relies on a series of Australian Standards.  Ours are written to be mostly performance-based and results-oriented, rather than prescriptive.  I know that there are some (many?) who would prefer a prescriptive standard.  By definition, a prescriptive standard prescribes, dictates, tells you: exactly what to do.

With a prescriptive standard, there’s little to no options or judgement.  There is no requirement for thinking beyond the recipe.  It removes the choice, there’s no judgement required, it just is.  This is certainly an easier way to do work; but it eliminates the chance for innovation or improvements.