Dealing with standardization: Do you need a Guru? Paradoxes and tricks of standardization management

Standardization is a major vehicle of company's strategy and technology. A very complex and strategic process, it implies political, legal, technical, economical, cultural, psychological and sociological aspects. Its horizontal nature and its connection to regulation, intellectual property rights, and global market needs require from company's management a comprehensive knowledge of the very nature of its process and its actors (internal and external). Using the help of a Guru may be a good way of building your team, defining your standardization strategy in coherence with the company's global strategy but it should be limited in time and in depth.