University of Michigan Flint
The term “user/owner/final fiduciary” is our own term of art to more accurately describe the character of our place in the infrastructure standards space. It is not formally recognized by the American National Standards Institute in its ANSI Essential Requirements: Due process requirements for American National Standards (Section 2.3) but ANSI’s due process provisions accommodate industry-specific interest categories on the next page.
We have invented this term to enlighten understanding of the complex interdependencies within our industry as it pertains to technical standards development; its numerous veto points, and its wicked requirements for multi-dimensional consensus. User/owner/final fiduciary is generally not the compliance and enforcement stakeholder. Many large school districts, colleges and universities have a place in their budget to enforce regulations. Virtually none of them support the stakeholder who is financially responsible for reconciling the competing requirements of safety and economy.
In the balanced market contemplated in global standard development organizations all recognize three interest categories:
- User
- General Interest
- Producer
In many ways, these three categories represent the buyer/seller/intermediary we see in financial markets. While there is no such thing as a perfect market these categories contemplate the broad contours of an accessible, balanced and transparent process established by standards developing organizations to promote self regulation of most economic sectors. There are many in-between nuances, however — hence our assertion that there is an interest best described as the user/owner/final fiduciary. In the case of the public sector; mastery of these nuances is essential for value delivery. In particular, the specific problem of all three of these interest categories existing within the same public organization will be explored. Enforcement and/or conformity assessment enterprises such as fire alarm, elevator, electrical and occupational units — even though they may possess the most technical expertise in their particular safety discipline — are not specifically the final fiduciary. The final fiduciary — whether it is the within the organization, or an auxiliary to the organization (such as an elected governance board) — is the interest category that is finally responsible for both safety AND economy. Reconciling the competing objectives in a practical manner that allows the organization to meet its economic goals is our central objective.
Link to today’s teleconference is available below:
