According to the author selected for this analysis, the quality standards embodied in the ISO 9000 quality systems standards have clearly become more prevalent over the last few years, in fact, more than 90 countries out of the world's 220 or so burgeoning nations have adopted the ISO 9000 series or its equivalent as their national standards; furthermore, adherence to ISO 9000 standards has become mandatory for companies looking to market medical devices or telecommunications equipment in Europe, where more than 20,000 companies are currently registered (Barnes, 1998. According to this analyst, "In the U.S., suppliers to the electrical, chemical, and nuclear industries are expecting certification to become mandatory. The number of ISO 9000 registrations is doubling every nine to 12 months in the U.S., from 100 in 1990 to 4000 in 1994" (Barnes 1998, p. 24).

What is typically referred to as the ISO 9000 standard are actually comprised of five different subcategories; the ISO 9000 standards are the general guide to the other categories involved:

ISO 9001 is the most comprehensive, covering research, design, building, shipping, and installing.

ISO 9002 is for companies that only produce and supply existing products;

ISO 9003 is for companies which do even less, such as assembly;

ISO 9004 is a document to guide further internal quality development; and ISO 14000 is a new standard to address environmental issues (Barnes, 1998).

In truth, though, the strict standards embodied in ISO 9000 can be considered be the most influential standards of their specific type in the world today (Simmons & White, 1999). The impact of this widespread acceptance of ISO 9000 indicates that many organizations have identified a course of action that pays dividends on a regular basis. Notwithstanding the fact that there is no overwhelmingly compelling evidence that the standards codified by the ISO 9000 series are ultimately good or bad (Simmons & White,...

In this regard, the concept behind the ISO 9000 series that can potentially mostly contribute to competitive advantage has unfortunately attracted less attention from scientific researchers. Nevertheless, a growing number of organizations have questioned the association between ISO 9000 and their business-related outcomes. According to some recent observers, "Does the size of the firm affect the benefits obtained? Do firms that are committed to international markets or export extensively benefit more than firms competing domestically?" (Simmons & White, 1999, p. 331).
Conclusion

While the pundits continue to debate the find points, the trend today is becoming increasingly clear. The research showed that the ISO 9000 quality systems standards or their equivalent have been adopted in more than 90 countries as national standards around the globe and it would appear that the trend is gaining steam today. The research also showed that although compliance with ISO 9000 standards is not mandatory for some industries in the United States and abroad today, these standards have become virtually obligatory for companies that want to conduct business overseas or project a viable online presence.

In the final analysis, Barnes (1998) was visionary in that he foresaw that need for managers at all levels to emphasize compliance with standards than can be changed but still manage to reflect the core goals of any organization today.