Industrial Voluntary Consensus Standards â?? A Process Under Threat

Industrial Voluntary Consensus Standards – A Process Under Threat by Joel Blumenthal MA, University of Phoenix, 2003 BS, University of Washington, 1982 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University February 2018 Abstract The world relies heavily on industrial voluntary consensus standards to serve public interests through the development of uniform and harmonized social and economic procedures. The research problem focused on generating suggestions for improving collaborative practices between U.S.-based accredited and unaccredited standards development organizations that create voluntary consensus standards. The researchThe world relies heavily on industrial voluntary consensus standards to serve public interests through the development of uniform and harmonized social and economic procedures. The research problem focused on generating suggestions for improving collaborative practices between U.S.-based accredited and unaccredited standards development organizations that create voluntary consensus standards. The research centered on assessing the level of consensus among experts regarding what actions may be conducive to improving collaborative practices through the lenses of stakeholder and institutional theory. This modified 3-round qualitative Delphi study began with openended questions in Round 1 and progressed towards consensus in Rounds 2 and 3 using close-ended questions. The results encompassed consensus on 12 actions for preserving the historically deliberative and inclusive democratic U.S. voluntary consensus standards process spanning 6 categories: competition, deregulation, oversight, organizational structure, leadership training, and market-driven. The most notable of the 12 actions was an increase in internal and external liaison functions between standards development organizations and more participation on the part of industry and trade groups. This was the 1st study to apply the construct of consensus to the generation of actions focused on reducing the rise of an exclusive and nondemocratic voluntary consensus standards process and preserving a historically deliberative and inclusive democratic process. Incorporating the suggestions identified in this study may lead to positive social change by improving collaborative practices between standards development organizations and preserving the legitimacy of this important social function. Industrial Voluntary Consensus Standards – A Process Under Threat by Joel Blumenthal MA, University of Phoenix, 2003 BS, University of Washington, 1982 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Management Walden University February 2018 Dedication I would like to dedicate this paper to those special individuals who have taught me the value of holding ideals and integrity above short term gains and who have presented me with opportunities to interact with individuals who have different temperments, tallents, and convictions. In particular, I would like to thank my father, Robert M. Blumenthal (deceased), and Bob Anderson of TBI whose encouragement and leadership-by-example have helped me embrace a world view of cooperation and respect and who have allowed me to make mistakes without fear of recrimination. I also want to thank my wife, Kathy, and my mother, Sarah, whose support both finanically and emotionally have given me the opportunity to explore aspects of myself and humanity in ways that I hope will have positive social benefit. Finally, I would like to thank individuals such as Peter Petrillo, Gary Woods, and Evan Peterson who have mentored me, and my Walden committee whose advice and patience have helped guide me through this process. Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge the staff of Walden University, especially my committee. The input I received was always offered professionally and helped me refine my work in a positive way. I also want to acknowledge my expert panel members whose input and commitment to this research have helped add another grain of sand to the vast beach of human knowledge; and to my wife, Kathy, who while not always understanding my passion for this journey, nevertheless supported me in so many ways because what I was doing was important to me. Finally, I wish to express my gratitude to everyone else I did not mention, but whose contributions aided in the successful completion of this dissertation.