Call for Chapters ‘Strategic Management of Information Technology Standards’

edited by: Richard Hawkins, Ken Krechmer, Kai Jakobs, Mostafa Hashem Sherif

to be published by IGP.

The book will use a non-prescriptive approach – i.e., it will not be a ‘how to’ book, but a ‘why’ book, to give professionals, academics, and students insights into how to understand the impact of standards on IT products and services, processes, and policies. It will, therefore, adopt a very multi-disciplinary approach. Standardisation and, particularly, current trends in standards research will be discussed from a multitude of angles, including, but not limited to, computer science, information science, telecommunications, business, economics, sociology, management, technology studies, and law.

The editors plan to create a homogeneous book and not a collection of disparate papers in various fields.

The book will be subdivided into the four main parts ‘Background’, ‘Standardisation Environment’, ‘Management of Standards’, and ‘Evaluation of Standards’ (see below for a more detailed list of topics).

Manuscripts are solicited that address one or – better yet – several of the topics listed below. Outlines of potential contributions may be submitted for initial screening and feedback.

Please send enquiries, outlines, and contributions (preferrably in PDF or RTF) to: Kai Jakobs <[email protected]>

Important Dates —————

Outlines (optional): March 15, 2004 Contributions due: June 30, 2004 Notification of acceptance: September 15, 2004 Final versions due: November 15, 2004

List of Topics ————–

BACKGROUND * Definition and scope of IT standards * Drivers for IT standardisation * Limitations of IT standards * Conformity assessment * Standardisation and innovation * Evolution of standards * Characteristics and typology of IT standards

STANDARDISATION ENVIRONMENT * Standards vs. other means to achieve compatibility * Standards and technology life cycles * Legal aspects of standardisation – Intellectual Property Rights – Regulation – Mandatory vs. Voluntary Standards * Economic aspects of standards * Standards policies

MANAGEMENT OF STANDARDS * Creation – Standardisation processes – The different stakeholders – Proactive, reactive, joint standardisation – The ‘consortia’ phenomenon – The social shaping of standards – Internet Standards

* Implementation – Standards and product planning – Standards and business strategies – Rethinking the organisation – Implementation issues and their effect on the industry structure – The impact of standards on development – Standards and international competition

* Use – Competitive advantages through standards? – IT standards in individual sectors – Telecommunications – Services – Intelligent transport systems – Manufacturing – Health care – Standards management and technology management – Risk in standards management – Case Studies

EVALUATION OF STANDARDS * Standard audits * Certification * Standards and technology assessment * Standardisation and technology transfer * Bugs in the standards * Anatomy of a successful standard * Anatomy of a failed standard.