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 book explores the paradox of the hospitality industry: customers demand not only personal and innovative tourism products and services, but also cost-effective ones. Enterprises have the option to meet the former demand by offering authentic products and services while the latter could be achieved through standardization. Although it seems ideal to combine both concepts, they seemingly contradict each other leading to suppliers facing an authenticity-standardization paradox. The authors identify, analyze, and provide solutions for this authenticity-standardization paradox based on a series of case studies of restaurants in China. This book will be of interest to scholars, business owners, and consultants.

This book examines education about standardization in the context of sustainable management. It shows the role of standardization education in the global economy, and in markets, industries and businesses. The book presents knowledge on standardization for sustainable management, describes measures that can be taken to stimulate it, and highlights strategies for teaching and disseminating the concept. Subsequently presenting a number of best practices and case studies, the book seeks to align theory and practice. For researchers, this is the first academic publication that interconnects the concepts of sustainability, standardization and education. For professionals in the area of sustainability it shows that standardization is an essential instrument for enhancing sustainability for which proper education is needed. For standardization professionals the book reveals the links to sustainability and it shows not only the importance of education about standardization but also how this can be organized, and finally, for universities, the book shows that standardization deserves to be included in the curriculum, and it provides guidance and best practice examples about how this can be done.

This book examines education about standardization in the context of sustainable management. It shows the role of standardization education in the global economy, and in markets, industries and businesses. The book presents knowledge on standardization for sustainable management, describes measures that can be taken to stimulate it, and highlights strategies for teaching and disseminating the concept. Subsequently presenting a number of best practices and case studies, the book seeks to align theory and practice. For researchers, this is the first academic publication that interconnects the concepts of sustainability, standardization and education. For professionals in the area of sustainability it shows that standardization is an essential instrument for enhancing sustainability for which proper education is needed. For standardization professionals the book reveals the links to sustainability and it shows not only the importance of education about standardization but also how this can be organized, and finally, for universities, the book shows that standardization deserves to be included in the curriculum, and it provides guidance and best practice examples about how this can be done.

This book explores the paradox of the hospitality industry: customers demand not only personal and innovative tourism products and services, but also cost-effective ones. Enterprises have the option to meet the former demand by offering authentic products and services while the latter could be achieved through standardization. Although it seems ideal to combine both concepts, they seemingly contradict each other leading to suppliers facing an authenticity-standardization paradox. The authors identify, analyze, and provide solutions for this authenticity-standardization paradox based on a series of case studies of restaurants in China. This book will be of interest to scholars, business owners, and consultants.