RE: Dead horse whinnies again (was RE: certification)

[KMcLauchlan -at- chrysalis-its -dot- com]

Bruce Byfield [mailto:bbyfield -at- progeny -dot- com] replies:
>> 
>> Now, if there were TWO or MORE certifying bodies, in
>> competition, and neither of them had a government mandate,
>> then I would have some confidence in one, the other, or
>> both organizations and the people they certify.
>> The first one to go over to the dark side would be the
>> first one to lose my confidence.
>
>The only trouble is, in order to gain an edge over the 
> other, each body
>would be constantly tempted to water down its standards in 
>order to have
>more people certified by it. 

I don't happen to share that view. The strategies of 
the service provider are a response to the market. If 
the market wants low-ball standards, then that's what 
they'll get, but the certifications will lose value as 
the certifiers lose credibility, and it soon won't be 
any kind of a "credential" to hold such a cert.

On the other hand, if those who are paying -- and in 
many cases, I'd bet that it would be employers, just 
as likely as individuals paying their own shot -- put 
a high value on good, reliable standards, then at least 
one certifying organization will aim that way. There's 
a market for integrity and consistency.

>Eventually, both would probably be in collusion to 
>set the standards,
>and the resulting oligarchy would be virtually 
>identical to a monopoly.

And you believe this would never come to light?
Once it did, there's nothing to prevent a third or 
fourth party from filling the integrity void, and 
growing a nice business at the expense of the club.

That's why I say we're safe as long as no certifying 
body has any form of government authority behind it.

Without government clout, you CAN'T form a monopoly.
People/companies can sometimes come close -- for 
limited periods of time -- when the business revolves 
around a "limited" physical resource. But without the 
use of force, there's simply no way to coerce compliance 
when the necessary resources are everywhere. Anybody 
seeing a business opportunity can set up in opposition, 
any time they like. 

If you've gotten yourself in the business of selling 
practically-worthless paper, and then I come along 
with a rigorous, fair, audited service that has some 
real value, I'll laugh harder and harder every time you 
drop your price.

>> Competition is healthy. Monopoly and State mandate is actively
>> unhealthy.  Go forth and multiply... certifiably.
>
>Competition is wasteful, works against common standards, and ends in
>monopoly.
 
That's a myth. Or three myths.  It's also the kind of 
assertion usually promulgated by the people who want to 
be the elders of the state religion. Be watchful of them, 
for they never had your interests at heart.

>Officially sanctioned monopoly is wasteful, bureaucratic, and works
>against innovation.

That's certainly true, but doesn't go nearly far enough.

>Which is better seems to depend on the situation or which evil 
>you think is the lesser.

Between folks who'll offer me a useful (according to me) 
service, and politico-bureau'rats who'll impose something,
and make me jump through hoops for their convenience, 
I think the choice should be obvious.

Since I'm not the sort of animal who would spearhead 
the creation of a standards body, my job then, is to 
incite those who ARE that type of animal to do the right 
thing when somebody inevitably pushes to standardize 
my profession... technical writing.

Hope they're listening.  I don't want to have to suck/buy 
my way into a guild, just to become/remain employed.   :-)

/kevin

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