Standards touch every aspect of our lives, and standards developers are needed in every sector of society. ISO has just released international standards guidance on the competencies required of standards professionals, in order to raise and harmonize the necessary skills and to attract new talent into the field of standardization.
From corporate specifications to national, regional, and international guidelines, standards come in many forms, and thousands — even millions — of standards professionals devote themselves to standards development. While the work involved in developing standards varies, many common skills are still required. Various forms of guidance have already been published, such as national qualification programmes in several countries and APEC Education Guides Nos. 5 and 6 for standards professionals.
Recognizing the need for international guidance and to attract people into the standards profession, ISO has now developed a two-part International Workshop Agreement (IWA) specifying the competencies required of organizations around the world.
IWA 30-1 "Competence of standards professionals — Part 1: In companies" sets out the knowledge, skills, and attributes required of personnel within companies engaged in standardization work, while IWA 30-2 "Competence of standards professionals — Part 2: Standards-related organizations" applies to organizations involved in any part of the standards lifecycle. These documents include task and sub-task structures, common competencies, task-by-task competencies, and a career development roadmap for standards professionals.
Donggeun Choi, Chair of the ISO technical committee that developed the standard, said that there are millions of standardization-related jobs worldwide, and the standards field is in constant need of new blood.
He said: "Standards are designed to respond to ever-changing market needs and so they are constantly evolving. These documents will help new professionals enter the world of standards and existing standards, hone and improve their skills."
