ISO 20000: IT Service Management
With up to 80% of information technology budgets of most organizations directly linked to service management processes, a new ISO standard that benchmarks this activity is expected to result in cost savings for users, whether large or small enterprises, as well as, increased productivity and improved customer service. ISO 20000:2005 will enable organizations to benchmark their capability in delivering managed services, measuring service levels, and assessing performance. Today, IT service providers are under sustained pressure to deliver high...
Read MoreSix Software Quality Principles
An article written by Watts Humphrey in the online Crosstalk magazine discusses six quality principles for acquiring quality software. An edited copy of his article follows: In today’s software marketplace, the principal focus is on cost, schedule, and function; quality is lost in the noise. This is unfortunate since poor quality performance is the root cause of most software cost and schedule problems. However, as this article points out, there are proven ways to address this problem. The first step is adopting and demanding that vendors...
Read MoreKey Technology Trends for 2006
A recent article at InternetNews.com by Sean Michael Kerner with the Gartner research firm includes predictions for six technology trends expected to cause significant disruption and drive opportunity for business and the Information Technology industry. The six trends identified include: Notebook Computers, Telephony, IT Job Market, Business Process Outsourcing, Healthcare Software, and Regulatory Compliance Issues. Computer Notebook usage has been growing at a rapid clip for years. Notebooks are not always used strictly for work purposes...
Read MoreISO 26000 Guidelines: Social Responsibility
ISO has launched the development of an International Standard providing guidelines for Social Responsibility. The guidance standard will be published in 2008 as ISO 26000 and be voluntary to use. It will not include requirements and will thus not be a certification standard. There is a range of many different opinions as to the right approach, ranging from strict legislation at one end, to complete freedom at the other. ISO is looking for a golden middle way that promotes respect and responsibility based on known reference documents without...
Read MoreMore ISO 9001:2000 Interpretations
ISO Technical Committee 176 maintains a web site for ISO 9001:2000 interpretations at <http://www.tc176.org/Interpre.asp>. Earlier interpretations were included in our January 2004, September 2004, and January 2005 newsletters. Since those newsletters, the committee has added these ISO 9001:2000 interpretations: ISO 9001:2000 Interpretation RFI – 049 Request: ISO 9001:2000 Clause 1.2 Does the standard require an organization that purchases a complete design, then manufactures a product to the design and sells it under its own brand...
Read MoreGuidance on Document and Record Control
You may be familiar with the ISO 9001:2000 requirements for document control in clause 4.2.3 and for record control in clause 4.2.4. However, are you aware of the extra requirements that the industry sector schemes have added to those basic requirements and the available guidance on document and record control? If you’ve thought about expanding or strengthening your control of documents and records, this article may identify possible improvements for your system. We will first review the ISO 9001:2000 document and record control...
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