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In our February issue, the editorial was an apocryphal parabolic tale about a dream I had, where I find myself privy to a conspiracy. It involves a group of Europeans who meet to establish a set of standards to serve as nontariff barriers. The conspirators name these standards Iceberg 9000.
In this clever and amusing tale, I describe the reaction of two American companies to Iceberg 9000. Company Alpha puts out lowquality products, yet it is able to win coveted Iceberg 9000 certification because its products are built to meticulously documented procedures. The other firm, Company Bravo, wins Iceberg 9000 by putting together an elaborate collection of fraudulent backdated paperwork.
The editorial drew many letters of praise, but it also drew several pieces of correspondence from outraged members of the Quality Fraternity, who mistakenly thought I was making fun of ISO 9000, an action they perceived as a threat to their power and prestige as they ride the crest of ISO mania in corporate America. However, among the supportive letters, one was especially interesting. It was from a reader who describes the travails of a third company contending...