A World of Standards

Description

In the modern world there is no shortage of people who know what is best for others. Self-appointed experts, consultants, and organizations try to convince states, corporations, and individuals that they would be better off if they only followed some specific rules about what to do. These rules are presented as being voluntary and advisory. They are standards, not mandatory directives, and in modern life standards abound. Standards may concern what characteristics a telephone should have, how a company should report its financial transactions, how organizations should be managed, how states should treat their citizens, how children should be raised, and so forth. Even organizations as powerful as states and large corporations follow standards on how to organize, which policies to pursue, what kinds of services to provide, or how their products should be designed. Standards enable a higher degree of global order in the modern world than would exist without them. They facilitate coordination and cooperation even among people and organizations that are far apart. The authors believe that standardization is a much neglected area of social science -- an area that has by no means received the attention it deserves in view of its importance to society. This book seeks to redress the balance by providing an in-depth examination of a number of aspects of standardization, how it is formed, and what effects it has on the world in which we live. acprof-9780199256952-miscMatter-1 Title Pages Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson Title Pages (p.i) A WORLD OF STANDARDS (p.ii) (p.iii) A World of Standards Title Pages acprof-9780199256952-miscMatter-4 (p.v) Preface Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson (p.v) Preface (p.v) Preface acprof-9780199256952-miscMatter-6 (p.x) List of Contributors Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson (p.x) List of Contributors (p.x) List of Contributors acprof-9780199256952-chapter-1 The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Nils Brunsson (Contributor Webpage) Bengt Jacobsson (Contributor Webpage) Abstract and Keywords The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Standardizers, standards, and adopters The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization (p.4) Standards The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Standards for what we do The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Standards for what we have The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization (p.6) Adopters of standards The compass of standardization The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Perspectives on standardization The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Standardization as regulation The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Norms, directives, and standards The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Complex standards The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Related meanings of standard The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Controversial standards The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization Structure of the book The Contemporary Expansion of Standardization acprof-9780199256952-chapter-2 Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Nils Brunsson (Contributor Webpage) Abstract and Keywords Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Comparing organization, market, and standardization (p.23) Legitimacy Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Allocation of responsibility Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Complaints Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Support in legislation General and distanced Foundation in science Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Principle and practice Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Normative communities Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Mixed forms Organization and standardization Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Markets and standardization Normative communities and standardization Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Standardization as a problem Standardization as an alternative Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Standardization instead of organizations Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Standardization instead of markets Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Standardization instead of normative communities Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Supply and demand Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Individualization, globalization, and standardization Individualization Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Globalization Organizations, Markets, and Standardization Organizations, Markets, and Standardization acprof-9780199256952-chapter-3 Standardization and Expert Knowledge Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson Standardization and Expert Knowledge Bengt Jacobsson (Contributor Webpage) Abstract and Keywords Standardization and Expert Knowledge Standardization and Expert Knowledge Rules as a store of expert knowledge Standardization and Expert Knowledge Standardization and Expert Knowledge The scientific bases of standards Standardization and Expert Knowledge Standards as technical expert knowledge Standardization and Expert Knowledge Standardization and Expert Knowledge Expert knowledge, the voluntary nature of standards, and responsibility Standardization and Expert Knowledge Standardization and Expert Knowledge Standardization and Expert Knowledge Standardization, expert knowledge, and the Cartesian heritage Standardization and Expert Knowledge acprof-9780199256952-chapter-4 Standardizing through Organization Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson Standardizing through Organization Göran Ahrne Nils Brunsson (Contributor Webpage) Christina Garsten Abstract and Keywords Introduction Standardizing through Organization Standardizing through Organization Standardizing through Organization Standardizing through Organization (p.53) Three standard-based organizations Standardizing through Organization Standardizing through Organization The creation of standard-based organizations Status Standardizing through Organization Interaction Standardizing through Organization Working on behalf of members Standardizing through Organization Organizing fields Standardizing through Organization (p.59) Recruiting members Standardizing through Organization Standardizing through Organization Dissemination of standards through formal organization Stimulating the adoption of a standard Limiting the adoption of standards Standardizing through Organization Standardizing through Organization Application and modification of standards Standardization of practice Standardizing through Organization Standardizing through Organization Maintenance and modification of rules Standardizing through Organization (p.66) Standard-based organizations in a globalized world Standardizing through Organization On the global scene Standardizing through Organization A globalizing profess Standardizing through Organization acprof-9780199256952-chapter-5 The Knowledge Base of Standards Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson The Knowledge Base of Standards Staffan Furüsten Abstract and Keywords The Knowledge Base of Standards What is ISO 9000 and what does it provide? The Knowledge Base of Standards Quality (p.73) Product quality and quality systems The Knowledge Base of Standards The Knowledge Base of Standards Quality assurance The Knowledge Base of Standards Assumptions about organization: An interpretation of ISO 9000 The Knowledge Base of Standards The Knowledge Base of Standards The Knowledge Base of Standards The Knowledge Base of Standards Limited academic influence The Knowledge Base of Standards The Knowledge Base of Standards The strong influence of popular management culture The Knowledge Base of Standards The Knowledge Base of Standards The Knowledge Base of Standards Why research has not influenced the standard The Knowledge Base of Standards The Knowledge Base of Standards acprof-9780199256952-chapter-6 Organizing the Process of Standardization Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson Organizing the Process of Standardization Kristina Tamm Hallström Abstract and Keywords Organizing the Process of Standardization A standards organization at work: TC 176 Organization and work procedures Organizing the Process of Standardization Organizing the Process of Standardization Participants Organizing the Process of Standardization A catalogue of problems Problems with numerous variations of a standard Organizing the Process of Standardization Problems due to lack of co-ordination Organizing the Process of Standardization Organizing the Process of Standardization (p.91) Problems of standards unrelated to user needs Organizing the Process of Standardization (p.92) Problems with self-generated interests Organizing the Process of Standardization Different principles of organization Expertise Organizing the Process of Standardization Representation Organizing the Process of Standardization User orientation Organizing the Process of Standardization (p.96) Participation Conflicts between different principles Between expertise and user orientation Organizing the Process of Standardization Between expertise and representation Organizing the Process of Standardization Between representation and user orientation Organizing the Process of Standardization Dealing with conflicting principles Organizing the Process of Standardization acprof-9780199256952-chapter-7 Arenas as Standardizes Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson Arenas as Standardizes Kerstin Sahlin-Andersson Abstract and Keywords Arenas as Standardizes Arenas as Standardizes An arena serving as a standardizer Work programme and reports Arenas as Standardizes Arenas as Standardizes Standards Standardization by editing (p.104) From reform initiatives to standards Arenas as Standardizes Arenas as Standardizes The character of the standards Arenas as Standardizes The editing pnocess Arenas as Standardizes Arenas as Standardizes The organization and situation of the standardizer The establishment Arenas as Standardizes Arenas as Standardizes (p.110) Attracting interest, involvement, and support Arenas as Standardizes Arenas as Standardizes Standardization: A way for the neutral arena to produce results Arenas as Standardizes Standards created are not necessarily adopted Arenas as Standardizes acprof-9780199256952-chapter-8 Selling Standards Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson Selling Standards Roger Henning Abstract and Keywords Selling Standards (p.115) Standardizers and standards The Swedish Institute for Quality Selling Standards (p.116) Standardization in Sweden Selling Standards Professional Management The problem of persuasion Selling Standards Arguments for standards Selling Standards Creating adopters: All are organizations and businesses Selling Standards Selling Standards Selling Standards For the benefit of adopters and their customers Selling Standards Selling Standards (p.123) References to others Selling Standards Selling Standards Arguments that are missing acprof-9780199256952-chapter-9 Following Standards Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson Following Standards Nils Brunsson (Contributor Webpage) Bengt Jocobsson Abstract and Keywords Following Standards Following standards by changing practice or presentation Practising standards Following Standards Standardizing practice Following Standards Ambiguity and de-coupling Following Standards Why follow standards? Following Standards Identity Following Standards Following Standards Situation Standardization and being an actor Following Standards How voluntary is the standard? Following Standards Following Standards Incentives Following Standards acprof-9780199256952-chapter-10 Standardization and Uniformity Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson Standardization and Uniformity Nils Brunsson (Contributor Webpage) Abstract and Keywords Standardization and Uniformity Processes that create uniformity Uniformity through diffusion Standardization and Uniformity Standardization and Uniformity Uniformity through innovation Uniformity through imitation Standardization and Uniformity Standardization and Uniformity Uniformity and following standards Standardization and Uniformity Information The number of actors Standardization and Uniformity Relevance: The identity and situation of the actor Standardization and Uniformity Interpretittg statidards Standardization and Uniformity Implementation Standardization and Uniformity Competing standards Standardization and Uniformity Standardization and Uniformity Standards for diversity Standardization and Uniformity Achieving uniformity through standards Standardization and Uniformity acprof-9780199256952-chapter-11 Standardization and Fashion Trends Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson Standardization and Fashion Trends Nils Brunsson (Contributor Webpage) Abstract and Keywords Standardization and Fashion Trends (p.152) Fashions and fashion trends Standardization and Fashion Trends Standardization and Fashion Trends Standardization as the origin of fashion trends Standardization and Fashion Trends Standardization and Fashion Trends Standardization and Fashion Trends Fashion trends in organizational forms Standardization and Fashion Trends Complex fashion trends Standardization and Fashion Trends A cropping-up model of organizational forms Standardization and Fashion Trends Organizational forms Reforms Standardization and Fashion Trends Standardization and Fashion Trends Standardization and Fashion Trends Organizational discourse Standardization and Fashion Trends Standardization and Fashion Trends Model dynamics Standardization and Fashion Trends Processes producing uniformity Standardization and Fashion Trends Dissemination of forms Standardization and Fashion Trends Cropping up explained Interaction between reforms and standards Standardization and Fashion Trends Standardization and Fashion Trends The range of applicability Standardization and Fashion Trends acprof-9780199256952-chapter-12 The Pros and Cons of Standardization — An Epilogue Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson The Pros and Cons of Standardization — An Epilogue Nils Brunsson (Contributor Webpage) Bengt Jacobsson (Contributor Webpage) Abstract and Keywords The Pros and Cons of Standardization — An Epilogue Why standards? The Pros and Cons of Standardization — An Epilogue The Pros and Cons of Standardization — An Epilogue Arguments against standards and standardization The Pros and Cons of Standardization — An Epilogue Standardization and the procrustean heritage The Pros and Cons of Standardization — An Epilogue acprof-9780199256952-bibliography-1 (p.175) Bibliography Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography (p.175) Bibliography acprof-9780199256952-indexList-1 (p.185) Index Nils Brunsson and Bengt Jacobsson (p.185) Index (p.185) Index (p.185) Index (p.185) Index (p.185) Index (p.185) Index (p.185) Index