What are standards and why care about them? Standards are agreed-upon ways of doing something – of making a product, managing a process, delivering a service or supplying materials. In our technologically advancing and connected world, they increasingly shape the competitiveness of firms and economies, the health of individuals and complex systems (energy, trading, financial reporting), and the fate of the planet. Yet, few business managers, government officials or those who advise them know much about the standardization process for voluntary, consensus standards and who creates them, much less how to get involved in order to shape them and take full advantage of their existence. This inter-disciplinary, graduate-level course addresses that gap by teaching the knowledge and skills needed to operate effectively and provide leadership in the standards arena. It gives special attention to the exciting potential for voluntary consensus standards to promote prosperity and safety at a time when governments find it difficult to act.
Please use the links below to download the syllabus and course profiles.