Expert advice
Archived message of the Austrian Standards Institute
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A European standard is to facilitate cross-border expertise activities of experts.
Vienna (AS prm, 2010-06-24)
- Credit: ASI prm
Our world becomes more and more complex. Even if we keep our knowledge up to date and continuously learn, we still face limits sometimes.
Nevertheless, decisions need to be taken on a sound basis. Frequently, we have to draw on the know-how of external experts and need expert studies or expertise to make sure that we take the right actions. Expert advice has become indispensible today.
But, how do experts make sure that they provide “good” information and the “right” advice as a basis for decision-making? Which criteria do they use to prepare their reports? How do they go about their work?
European standard proposed
Harmonised rules are required to ensure that the high expectations justly placed on expert advice are actually met.
In view of the cross-border integration of the economy, the French standardisation body AFNOR initiated the development of a European standard on expertise activities.
The project’s title is “General requirements of competence for an expertise activity”.
For this purpose, a new programming committee (CEN/PC) will be set up for “Expertise Services”. An enquiry on this topic is currently carried out among the members of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN).
Strengthening competitiveness
The European Union also provided a major impetus for the development of European standards on expertise services.
In its Communication on “Improving the knowledge base for better policies” of December 2002, the Commission highlights the need for ensuring best practices in using expertise and expert advice in policy-making in the EU.
After all, as the Commission stated and the French proposal quotes: “Expertise forms an integral part of a dynamic knowledge-based society” that could boost Europe’s competitiveness and quality of life.
A future standard in this field will impact several service areas: scientific and technical expert reports as well as in the insurance field, jurisdiction and the financial sector.
Essentially, the new standardisation project is to describe the general competences and qualifications required for diverse types of expert advice and reports.
It explicitly excludes consulting activities, testing, technical inspections and audits within the framework of conformity assessment.
The declared objective ultimately is that expert reports reach such a level of reliability that when decisions are based on expert advice doubts as to the appropriateness of the measures adopted are impossible.
