Some of the first attempts to standardize business practices came

Question

Some of the first attempts to standardize business practices came about during wartime. In world War I, shells frequently failed to detonate simply because two British armament manufactures had slightly different definitions of an inch. During World War II, Britain placed inspectors in weapons factories to determine the cause of accidental detonations. This led to a system by which potential suppliers had to detail their production processes - and ensure that workers stuck to them - before the supplier could be approved for a government contract. In 1959, the US developed its Quality Program Requirements for military procurement, and NATO followed suit in 1968. By 1987, the UK had formulated the BS9000, one of the first attempts to apply third--party standardization to a non-military manufacturing area: in this case, the electronics industry. Today's ISO9000, a global set of standards used by diverse businesses and governments, can be traced back to the BS9000. The ISO-a non-governmental organization consisting of representatives from 149 countries - has, to date, a portfolio of over 15,000 standards.

Implementation of ISO standards has not always gone smoothly. Too often, a company attempting to conform to standards has created an extra layer of bureaucracy - and all the paperwork that goes along with one - without actually improving processes. In addition, the military origins of the standardization process led to a system that was not always well-suited to businesses that were not traditional factory-floor operations. Recent ISO versions have tried to minimize the emphasis on documentation, and to stress management system effectiveness, process improvement, and customer satisfaction. Like any tool of business, however, ISO standards are used more effectively by some than by others. The difference lies in whether a set of standards is seen as a way to improve business practices or as an annoying checklist of obstacles.

In coming years, more ISO standards will apply to non-manufacturing realms such as the environment, service industries, security, information and communication, and even sociopolitical. Countries that have signed on to the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade have agreed to ISO assurance that their regulations do not amount to protectionism. International standardization also has the potential to allow developing countries a better chance at competing with businesses from richer nations, though this potential has only begun to be realized.   1 
 Answer: 1.E 
 1. Which of the following is the most appropriate title of the passage?

A. How the ISO Became the Standard Bearer of Standards
B. Applying Military Methods to the Business World
C. The Future of the ISO
D. Problems Associated with Implementing Business Standards
E. A Brief History of Business Practice Standards

2 
 Solution: B 
 2. According to the passage, which of the following has been true of third-party standardization of the British electronics industry?

A. It has invariably led businesses to create extra layers of bureaucracy.
B. It has led to the formulation of the ISO9000.
C. It was created while Britain was at war.
D. Some of the standard practices were used by the military.
E. It was based on the Quality Program Requirements devised by the U.S..

3 
 Solution: A 
 3. The passage suggests that implementing ISO standards has led some businesses to _______.

A. make changes that have not been productive
B. create environmentally harmless manufacturing processes
C. adopt some of the same managerial practices of military operations
D. identify new methods with which to gauge customer satisfaction
E. improve their own internal standards

4 
 OA C 
 4. The passage suggests which of the following about the future of international standardization?

A. Developing nations will take a greater part in devising the standards
B. ISO standards will be less useful to traditional factory-floor operations
C. Security concerns will be addressed by a greater number of ISO standards
D. A greater number of businesses will use the standards to improve their practices
E. It will be used to punish countries that practice protectionism.

jamifahad · Answer

Ask these questions: 1) Is ISO the only standard mentioned in passage? No. other business practice standards before ISO are also mentioned.
2) Has ISO evolved from some previous standards? Yes. Infact there is a chronological order in which practices have been mentioned.
3) Has author dedicated more words to the past/present of Standards in general than to ISO's future? Yes.

E. A Brief history of Business Practice Standards.

A. Out of scope
B. Opposite of this is true. ISO has not been useful to non-traditional factory-floor operations.
C. Richer nation agreed to ISO standards hence leveling the playing field with poorer nation. OA.
D. Doesn't say greater number of businesses will use standards because standards depend totally on the implementation and whether it is perceived as a way to improve business or as an obstacle.
E. Out of scope.

samrat84 · Answer

Can someone explain the below question:

The passage suggests that implementing ISO standards has led some businesses to _______.

make changes that have not been productive

create environmentally harmless manufacturing processes

adopt some of the same managerial practices of military operations

identify new methods with which to gauge customer satisfaction

improve their own internal standards

Kezia9 · Answer

Please refer 2nd paragraph lines 1-4. It confrms option A

Nikhil · Answer

+1 kudos to the posts containing answer explanations of all questions

soumya170293 · Answer

Need the explanation for the Q no # 3 & # 4 . 
For Q # 4 - why is it not D and why it's A despite haing a notion in the 4 th para like that " In coming years, more ISO standards will apply to non-manufacturing realms such as the environment, service industries, security, information and communication, and even sociopolitical. "

shubham2312 · Answer

not sure but this line 
 more ISO standards will apply to non-manufacturing realms such as the environment, service industries, security, information and communication, and even sociopolitical.

suggests that answer should be option C

arorni · Answer

Hi,

Can someone help me with the question 4:

4. The passage suggests which of the following about the future of international standardization?

A. Developing nations will take a greater part in devising the standards -> Incorrect, as developing nations will get chance to compete but we don't know if they will get chance to devise standards.

B. ISO standards will be less useful to traditional factory-floor operations ----> It's not mentioned..
C. Security concerns will be addressed by a greater number of ISO standards ----> Is C the correct answer because protectionism will not be favored by any of the participating country. confused between C and D. 
D. A greater number of businesses will use the standards to improve their practices-----> selected D as developing nations will get chance to compete with the other advance nation. 
E. It will be used to punish countries that practice protectionism. -----> It's said that countries agreeing with the standard has agreed not to favor protectionism.. but it's not mentioned that the countries that practice protectionism will be punished.

Can somebody please explain?

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Official Explanation

1. Which of the following is the most appropriate title of the passage?

Difficulty Level:   700

Explanation

This is a Universal question that requires you to tie together the entire passage. The 1st paragraph outlines the origins of business standard practices, and the final paragraph talks about the future of the standards. In between, there is a brief discussion of how the standards have been used and how they have changed over time.

(A):  This choice doesn’t take into account most of the 1st paragraph. 
 (B):  Standards aren’t mentioned in this choice. 
 (C):  The focus is not primarily on the future. 
 (D):  The focus is not primarily on problems.

Answer: E

2. According to the passage, which of the following has been true of third-party standardization of the British electronics industry?

Difficulty Level:   550

Explanation

The 1st paragraph states that the BS9000 was  “one of the first attempts to apply third-party standardization to a non-military manufacturing area; in this case, the electronics industry. Today’s ISO9000, a global set of standards used by diverse businesses and governments, can be traced back to the BS9000.”

(A): “Invariably”  is too strong. 
 (C):  This was never said to be true of third-party standardization. 
 (D):  The passage never states that this is so. 
 (E):  No connection is directly made between the QPR and third-party standardization of the British electronics industry.

Answer: B

3. The passage suggests that implementing ISO standards has led some businesses to _______.

Difficulty Level:   650

Explanation

The 2nd paragraph states that  “Too often, a company attempting to conform to standards has created an extra layer of bureaucracy-- and all the paperwork that goes along with one-- without actually improving processes.”

(B):  The last paragraph states that standards may affect the environment in the future. 
 (C):  Nowhere does the passage state that businesses started using military practices. 
 (D):  Methods of gauging satisfaction were not mentioned. 
 (E):  Internal standards were not mentioned.

Answer: A

4. The passage suggests which of the following about the future of international standardization?

Difficulty Level:   750

Explanation

The last paragraph begins,  “In coming years, more ISO standards will apply to non-manufacturing realms such as the environment, service industries, security” .

(A):  There is nothing in the passage about an increased role for developing nations. 
 (B):  The standards will apply to a greater range of businesses, but that is not to say that they won't apply to traditional Operations as well. 
 (D):  Whether the businesses actually improve their practices remains to be seen. 
 (E):  Nothing in the passage deals with punishment.

Answer: C

Hope it helps

David nguyen · Answer

Hello, I still do not get why 4.D is wrong. Please correct me. The last sentence of the paragraph says:"... allow developing countries a better chance at competing with businesses" - doesn't this lead to a greater number of businesses that will use the standards to improve their practices?

There is nowhere in the last paragraph that I can infer "security concerns"

AnushkaPatel961 · Answer

C. Security concerns will be addressed by a greater number of ISO standards
 We are not told that from other realms which will have more number of ISO standards- I have issue with" by a greater number of ISO standards"

Please clarifiy

bM22 · Answer

Hi  AnushkaPatel961 ,

Through the line: "In coming years,  more ISO standards  will apply to non-manufacturing realms such as the environment, service industries, security....", 
author mentions that the non-manufacturing realms will be addressed by more ISO Standards. So even though the list of non-manufacturing realms could be a long one, we can still say with certainty that security would be one of the concerns addressed.

Hope This Helps.
Thanks.

bestfaculty03 · Answer

Read the first few lines of the second paragraph “Implementation of ISO standards has not always gone smoothly. Too often, a company attempting to conform to standards…” Hence, option (a) is the answer.

Anshuman0902 · Answer

hey sajjad1994 !
 could you please elaborate why the options are wrong and the option which is correct in question number 4 .
thanx !!!!!!

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Please read the OA in the link below. https://gmatclub.com/forum/some-of-the- ... l#p2396892 Thank you

rocky620 · Answer

GMATNinja

For Q-4.  there is a confusion between choice C & D.

Agree the reasoning that choice C -  Security concerns will be addressed by a greater number of ISO standards  - is correct. But as per the passage 
 In coming years, more ISO standards will apply to non-manufacturing realms such as the  environment, service industries, security, information and communication, and even sociopolitical .

We can see that 5 realms are already mentioned, so we can infer that the number of businesses adopting the ISO standards will increase. On these line even choice D -  A greater number of businesses will use the standards to improve their practices  - makes sense.

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Some of the first attempts to standardize business practices came

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Some of the first attempts to standardize business practices came

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