Standardization : a business approach to the role of national standardization organizations

This study fills a gap in standardization literature. It is the first academic analysis of national standardization organizations. These organizations exist in every country and may be private or governmental organizations. The first national standardization th organizations were founded in the early decades of the 20 century and were aimed at rationalizing industrial production. Their mode of operation reflects the sense of co­ operation at the national level and - in the telecommunications and electrotechnical field - at the intemationallevel as well. Now, however, the scene has changed, with companies operating internationally. Standards for products, processes, and services are crucial factors in determining success or failure on a fiercely competitive market, especially when functional compatibility is a prerequisite, as is the case in computer and telecommunications technologies. As a consequence, rather homogeneous needs of participants in standardization have given way to conflicting interests. This prompts a discussion about the traditional role of national standardization organizations. They increasingly depend on their exclusive links to the international standardization organizations ISO and IEC, and, in the case of Europe, the regional organizations CEN and CENELEC. In many cases, formal standardization organizations are not the obvious bodies for developing standards to meet business needs. Is this inevitable or could they improve performance and regain their market share? Henk de Vries answers this question against the background of current developments in standardization at the international, European, and national levels. This study is the first academic analysis of national standardization organizations. The growing importance of consortia, and the shift from standardization at the national level towards the regional or international level, have prompted a discussion about the importance of national standardization organizations. Against this background, Henk de Vries analyzes the role of these organizations. The book aims to provide both practitioners and scholars with a better understanding of standardization. The introductory general chapters concern the concept of standards and standardization and depict the relevant organizations with special attention to the national standardization organizations and their portfolio of services. The book discusses the needs of users of standards in depth as well as the mechanisms that determine the market success of standards, the methods for standards development and standardization at a company level. The practical chapters, which alternate with the ones with a more theoretical focus, describe the case of standardization of management systems and the case of standardization in service sectors. The book is balanced with a fundamental analysis of how the national standardization organizations can meet the business needs of their customers Front Matter....Pages i-xxi Front Matter....Pages 1-1 General Introduction....Pages 3-12 Introduction to Standards and Standardization....Pages 13-31 Current NSO Services....Pages 33-54 Actor Needs....Pages 55-72 Analysis of NSO Standard Development....Pages 73-90 Improvements in NSO Standards Development....Pages 91-115 Other NSO Services....Pages 117-134 Front Matter....Pages 135-135 Standardization: What’s in a Name?....Pages 137-157 Classification of Standards....Pages 159-172 Possibilities for Better Management System Standards....Pages 173-188 Standardization in Service Sectors....Pages 189-203 Mechanisms in the Spread of Standards....Pages 205-216 Methods to Develop Standards....Pages 217-230 Services Related to Company Standardization....Pages 231-240 Front Matter....Pages 241-241 Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations....Pages 243-258 Back Matter....Pages 259-320