ISO 9001 Certification and Cultural Adaptation: A Formula for Success (Demo)

When famed logistics company DHL held a lavish media event in Germany last September 2013, they were asked to share their secret for success. In an interview with Hürriyet Daily News, DHL executive vice president Roy Hughes said that the company simply understood and accepted that “successful globalization stems from ensuring equal quality standards and a thorough understanding of local elements.” Hughes further states:

“We do the same thing, everywhere… What you have to do is have globalization and an element of localization. All countries will have different cultures. But the way we manage, and the way we do everything else, the training we have internally as well, all of it is the same material, the same methodology”… “All cultures are fundamentally the same and different. If I go to see our guys at Sabiha Gökçen, or Atatürk [Airport], or Athens, or Italy, or Sweden – fundamentally, people are people.”

In essence, one way to succeed is to follow global industry trends without alienating local markets. This also means that companies should be open-minded and willing to evolve, whether in terms of business structure, business practices, or the very standards that they rely on. Upholding one’s business standards can be very difficult, especially when striving to become ISO-certified, but the fruits of one’s efforts can more than offset the time-consuming steps involved. Thankfully, firms like International Standards Authority Inc. can make the ISO 9001 certification process less stressful. ISO 9001 was formulated by the International Organization for Standardization with the purpose of improving quality management practices among businesses of all sizes. This quality management standard encourages companies to focus on customer relations and adopt better overall management practices. ISO 9001 is applicable to various industries and fields since it aims to develop better administration practices in any organization. Successful ISO 9001 certification can boost the prestige of any company or institution. Prospective clients and big conglomerates are more likely to work with your company if you’re ISO certified since this signifies that you put great importance on the quality of your services and products. Trust is an expensive commodity, as they say, and an ISO accreditation can help you earn the confidence of prospective clients. (From Top standards, localization important in business: DHL, Hürriyet Daily News, September 10, 2013) – www.iso.org/iso/home/standards/management-standards/iso_9000.htm