ISO 9000

The ISO 9000 focuses on quality management. More specifically, it addresses what an organization needs to do to meet customer quality requirements, abide by regulatory requirements, increase customer satisfaction, and continually improve performance (International Organization for Standardization, 2011).

            The benefits of using ISO 9000 when upgrading processes or software systems are numerous. Following the set of standardized requirements for these new quality management systems is critical because they provide the necessary fundamental aspects of performance improvement, documentation, training, finance and economics. The standards allow for the organization using them to be auditable. It is important to be auditable so that both internal and external groups have a way to measure if specific requirements are being met. Management can use it to see if they are fully in control of organizational activities and clients can use it to gain confidence that the organization can provide products and services that meet their requirements.
            If an otherwise good manager refused to enforce the prescribed standardized processes I would convey to them that enforcing the standards is not optional. It is something that is essential to the project being completed and is an imperative step. I would be forced to put them on a different project that did not involve enforcing standards for ISO 9000 is the continued to not comply. I may even be forced to downgrade them to a non-supervisory position until the upgrading process is complete. If the standards aren’t implemented, the organization is no longer auditable and the entire focus of ISO 9000 is not accomplished. I would, therefore, not be able to have managers on my team who did not support the mission, regardless of how good of a manager there are.

References

International Organization for Standardization. (2011). International Organization for Standardization. Retrieved from ISO 9000- Quality management: http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/management_and_leadership_standards/quality_management.htm