ISO Focus - May 2009

Working together

ISO Focus, May 2009

Online version

The development of international consensus-based standards cannot be carried out in isolation. To ensure practicality, wide adoption and address current needs, it is crucial to include a large spectrum of stakeholders, so that all views are reflected in the end product.

But these are not the only reasons why partnership is one of ISO’s core values. Just try to imagine the huge and varied scope of subjects covered by ISO standards: from medical devices to automobiles, from data exchange to document management. This diversity requires a flexible system that can successfully bring together key experts and stakeholders in numerous fields.

Apart from the more than 160 countries represented by ISO members and the thousands of technical experts from around the world devoting their time to developing International Standards, ISO has liaisons with 700 international organizations. The May issue is therefore dedicated to our partners, emphasizing the collaboration which is so crucial to the success of international standardization.

Impossible to feature all, the next issue offers just a taste of the extensive range of external organizations that ISO cooperates with, who participate in ISO committee meetings and thus contribute to making ISO standards even more relevant.

Learn more about how and why a number of organizations from different fields cooperate with ISO in the May issue of ISO Focus.

Comment

Rob Steele, Secretary-General of ISO
Partnership – A core value and a basic process of ISO

Guest View

Ronnie Amit
CEO and General Secretary of IEC,

“How we support the challenge of combating climate change is a top priority.”

and

Malcolm Johnson
Director of ITU-T

“Increased cooperation means greater efficiency.”

Main Focus

Working together

No man is an island – The importance of cooperation
Concerted effort for developing countries – ISO and the UN
CEN and ISO – A common philosophy
Teamwork on the Pan American road of opportunity
Nearly one hundred years of service – CIE’s contribution to international standardization
Meeting the challenges of a changing world – IEEE’s partnership with ISO
The global regulatory model for medical devices
Sharing the driver seat for vehicle performance
A successful eBusiness venture
The business of confidence – Together for better results
Partners at work – Helping the world to manage its documents