Development Of Global Standards Research Articles

Global standards: promise and pitfalls for re‐inscribing social work into civil society1

This article critiques the modernist logical‐positivist ideology that has underscored social work, and interrogates the promise of the development of global standards to re‐inscribe social work into civil society at the global level. The potential pitfalls and dangers of such an initiative are also examined. The development of global standards was born out of an assumption that there is a common core to social work on a global level and on an essential affirmation of humanity and human dignity of all peoples across the world. Global standards might be construed to constitute a hegemonic Western discourse and a denial of context‐specific realities. However, a judicious, sensitive, post‐modernist and critical approach may enhance sensitivity towards difference and a greater appreciation of locally specific realities, within the global sphere.

New bridge technology for sustainable development

This paper describes a 20-year programme of the development of new advanced composite material applications in bridges to improve durability, lower whole-life cost, lessen disruption to traffic and lower environmental impact. The work is described within and follows the Framework for Effective Innovation set out by the Civil Engineering Research Foundation in the USA in 1996. The paper covers the development of global standards and performance criteria, the building of demonstration projects, examples of cross-disciplinary knowledge sharing and the use of partnering. Many examples are given of applications worldwide. The paper concludes with a brief description of ongoing work to create performance specifications for sustainable development across all disciplines, which builds on the lessons learned from this work.

New bridge technology for sustainable development

This paper describes a 20-year programme of the development of new advanced composite material applications in bridges to improve durability, lower whole-life cost, lessen disruption to traffic and lower environmental impact. The work is described within and follows the Framework for Effective Innovation set out by the Civil Engineering Research Foundation in the USA in 1996. The paper covers the development of global standards and performance criteria, the building of demonstration projects, examples of cross-disciplinary knowledge sharing and the use of partnering. Many examples are given of applications worldwide. The paper concludes with a brief description of ongoing work to create performance specifications for sustainable development across all disciplines, which builds on the lessons learned from this work.

Mid-Term Sealift Ship Technology Development Program: Design-for-Production R&D for Future Sealift Ship Applications

The NAVSEA Mid-Term Sealift Ship Technology Development Program (MTSSTDP) has been tasked by the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in charge of Strategic Sealift (N-42) to investigate technologies and design concepts that would improve performance and reduce the cost of future ships useful to the Navy for military sealift. A major area of concentration has been design-for-production or ship producibility. This area of the program required the Navy to obtain extensive industrial involvement from both domestic and international sources. A thorough description Is presented of the plans, objectives and accomplishments of the five producibility-related tasks. Topics covered are: generic build strategy, product work breakdown structure, production-oriented cost estimating, engine room arrangement modeling, and global standards development. In addition, other aspects of the program to be covered are the use of industry-led teams, the implementation of integrated product approaches, and the application of risk-based technologies.