ISO 10018
is a new ISO standard for organizations of all sizes, types and activities to
provide a framework for getting the best out of people in the implementation of
quality management systems based on ISO 9001.
It is
also something that some in the traditional incentive, rewards and recognition
industry feel has the potential to elevate our industry to new levels of
expertise never seen before. I certainly
hope so but so many things have to happen before that can come to
fruition.
ISO 9000
fostered thousands of consultants who work within that arena. Many feel that when ISO 10018 finalizes their
standards for employee engagement that it will open a market for thousands of
award companies who claim today that their products and services engage people.
That’s a big jump!
There’s
little dispute that more investors are demanding that public companies invest
in human capital and engagement. Will the arrival of ISO 10018 provide us with
a better, more scientific way of developing engagement strategies capable of
achieving incontestable solutions? And
will it produce award companies who have the capability to provide the full
service necessary to make it all work?
That
would seem to assume that the industry has not been able to do that up to this
time. Frankly, most suppliers in the
industry can’t. They just provide pieces
of the solution or act as sub-contractors to those who say that they can. They are not really involved in strategy,
merely tactics. And many of us love it
that way. We sell commodities, we know
and understand that and will never be standing in the boardroom talking those
intricate strategies?
The award
industry has craved the demand and respect earned by the marketing and
advertising industry for years.
Unfortunately, most award companies can’t afford to or won’t invest in
the expertise and manpower to deserve that respect. They would also have to completely change
their way of thinking regarding how they earn their money, from making profit
on selling commodities to consulting fees for designing and implementing
strategies that are effective.
When the
ISO 10018 standards finally come about and establish an accepted strategic
framework, we hope some of the award companies can make that transition. It would be nice to see.
