Developing Socio-Technical Standards at IEEE SA

As new technologies emerge, there’s an inherent need to develop socio-technical standards aligned with the best practices and regulations in the industries involved. Standardization clarifies both the guidance and guardrails required to keep innovating while also addressing the public interest.

Several IEEE Technical Societies develop standards covering a swath of technology sectors. The IEEE Society of Social Implications of Technology (SSIT) Standards Committee approaches new standards with a particular focus, which is to ensure developing technologies line up with ethical and societal values based on these SSIT principles:

• Sustainable Development and Humanitarian Technology
• Ethics, Human Values and Technology
• Technology Benefits for All
• Future Societal Impact of Technology Advances
• Protecting the Planet and Sustainable Technology

Conventional technical standards don’t anticipate and address the organizational, cultural, societal, and planetary issues technology often creates. Socio-technical standards do this and more. Governments and organizations should welcome direction and advice on how to navigate emerging technologies in a safe way.

It’s a 10-step process to prepare a new standards proposal that takes into account our “best practices” for developing ethically aligned and environmental stewardship standards.

IEEE technical standards can align with an industry’s best practices and regulatory compliance through some key steps. First, what is the current market for other socio-technical and technical standards? An environmental scan — both within and outside of IEEE SA — for relevant standards should be inherent in the standards proposal process. Second, it’s important to scan once again for similar or complementary standards and best practices after forming a working group based on the authorized proposal.

The IEEE SA socio-technical standards and best practices are unique, with few similar types standing out in comparison. Part of the reason is because the SSIT Standards Committee pursues development via “transdisciplinary” collaboration. This requires input from a range of professionals, including engineers, technicians, attorneys, and politicians, as well as social support and community representatives.

Casting a wider net is a significant process to create what are ultimately holistic socio-technical standards. All the stakeholders involved play critical roles in providing valuable feedback throughout the development cycle to ensure goals are met.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges from the start, or along the way. It’s not easy to develop new socio-technical standards for emerging technologies, especially when said technologies rapidly change. Doing so requires some strategic foresight to stay ahead of the curve in anticipating how newer tech may evolve. No one has a crystal ball to know the future before it happens, yet intricate research and metrics can present opportunities to approach such a process in the best way possible.

To develop lasting standards that remain relevant, it helps to know how society, including consumers and industries, adapt and adjust as emerging tech matures. Are there environmental and economic challenges to highlight? What, if any, are the solutions that stand out to meet those challenges?

We can view these as unique problems for the simple fact the term suggests they are ambiguous, volatile, unclear, and generally complex. This is also where viewpoints can differ between professional disciplines, which can pose its own challenges when trying to drive consensus within a transdisciplinary team. Communication is crucial to finding common cause, especially when considering contrasting views or interests.

This is even more acute when it comes to the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), an emerging technology expected to make a lasting impact. Since the SSIT Standards Committee closely monitors and supports all of the developing standards IEEE sponsors, ensuring success and relevance becomes all the more important.

Examples abound in how IEEE programs serve industries and the companies within them. The IEEE Conformity Assessment Program (ICAP) will independently test, certify, and verify technology complies with IEEE standards, be they products, services, or processes. Industry Connections (IC) fosters collaboration among the various stakeholders involved before developing a standard. Rather than start the process right away, it enables them to drive consensus by identifying industry needs, address technical issues, set guidelines, and present recommendations, regardless of whether stakeholders are IEEE members or not. The same principles apply to establishing socio-technical standards under the SSIT.

The IEEE SA Operations Manual and Bylaws set the guidelines for developing individual and entity standards. The Board of Governors appoint all board members who are also IEEE SA members in good standing.

However, volunteers to Working Groups are always welcome. There are 20 Working Groups currently under development within the IEEE, and those interested can review them before considering joining as either an individual or an entity. It’s also possible to create a new Working Group to support ideas for new socio-technical standards or recommended practices.

The SSIT Standards Committee offers a supportive environment to solve our greatest global challenges. Learn more about Working Groups and Developing Standards today.