An attack on ISO 9000. John Seddon argues that the ISO standards are not delivering the improved quality they promise, and that in most cases they are actually damaging the companies that have implemented them. Seddon argues that the command-and-control ethos that pervades the ISO way of thinking is precisely what most companies do not need. In its place, Seddon shows how real quality can be achieved in businesses today by viewing the organization as a system and focusing on continuous improvement as the best means to create higher quality products and services. With numerous case studies and examples from actual companies, this book should help managers take a new look at the critical question of how to develop a quality organization.