Language and Strategies at Work Studied through the Implementation of Quality Procedure Standards

In a big firm, a project for applying quality standards was followed from the drawing table to full implementation. By taking into account how language underlies this whole process, the meanings that wage-earners assign to standards can be analyzed & conflicting interpretations & disagreements about how to work observed. A detailed study is made of the relations between the specialized codified language of ISO standards & the ordinary language of the personnel, whether of project heads (who have to steer the project & mobilize wage-earners around it), of participants in the groups that have to describe work activities & draft procedures, or of the persons who, actually having to cope with changes in their jobs, pursue strategies for adopting or diverting standards. Processes of categorizing & "countercategorizing" work are thus shown to be the core issues in implementation. 22 References. Adapted from the source document.