31.03.17
International Standard for Collaborative Working in Business launched
A new International Standard for Collaborative Business relationships was launched this week at the Shard, as the Institute for Collaborative Working (ICW) alongside the Warwick Business School and British Standards Institute (BSI) made the announcement to an audience of 100 representatives from the public and private sector.
The publication of the standard, ISO 44001, was described as a “significant step forward” for collaborative working in business by ICW chairman Lord David Evans, who added that “given the challenges ahead this initiative driven by the UK and supported by the international community highlights the potential to be gained through working in collaboration”.
The concept, driven by ICW, was originally published as the CRAFT methodology in 2004 before it was changed to BS 11000 and refined to include integration with the ISO high level structure.
Les Pyle, chief executive of ICW, thanked the BSI and members of the Institutes Executive Network for their support through the development of the new standard.
He said: “The journey to international recognition began in 2004 when ICW identified the evolving role of collaborative business models, though our initial aim was and remains to promote the value of collaborative working.
“I would like to acknowledge the untiring efforts of David Hawkins, ICW operations director and knowledge architect, who has been at the forefront of this significant development.”
Hawkins commented: “By adopting the HLS we have brought collaborative working closer to our goal of it being harmonised and integrated with other management systems, ensuring it becomes more central to business thinking and application.
“It has been a long, interesting and challenging at times, for a non –standards person, but a worthwhile journey which I hope will be beneficial to all.”
Frank Lee, product certification technical & operational delivery director at BSI, stated: “Since 2010 when BS 11000 was first published, enterprises and supply chains have become more complex and new market demands have come to the fore.
“The way that organisations do business – and in particular, the way that they collaborate has therefore also had to change.”
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