In Broadcast - April 2012 - 60

WWW.INBROADCAST.COM | ISSUE 7 - APRIL 2012

InFORM
Making Good Connections Cont.
not a core part of their mission. However, as a member of the British Standards Institute, it contributes to technical committees that establish ‘Identiﬁer and Metadata’ standards (eg ISRC, ISWC etc.) as a part of the ISO (International Standards Organisation) in Geneva. The APRS is also associated with the AES Standards committee which has an extensive remit in audio engineering. radio, online, mobile and interactive media.” Covering policy, content and technical innovation, these brieﬁng papers pull together news and opinions about recent trends in the broadcast sector including tenders, funding opportunities and business leads. Such highly valuable information for business planners, product developers, sales teams and marketing can form a corner stone of their market knowledge.

Watchdog
When it comes to promoting business standards, trade associations tend to take differing approaches. The position of the DTG and APRS, for example, is parochial and perhaps even old school: “We all know each other and if someone behaves seriously badly we all get to hear about it soon enough and a truly deviant culprit may never get another job,” notes the APRS. For the DTG, history shows that “we’ve been quite lucky in that the digital TV industry recognises that acting in the best interest of the viewer is fundamentally in the best interest of the industry.” Conversely, for this IABM, this is an entirely more pressing issue: its Business Standard campaign actively promotes best business practice. Peter White explains: “All our members sign up to it as part of being a member of the Association. The IABM Business Standard is an eight-point code of practice covering the company, the customer, the people, products and services, environmental, ethical, competition and community. In times of recession, customers are just as likely to seek suppliers they can trust and share the same values and remains entirely relevant.” The code with its emphasis on ethical business differs from

Peter Filleul of the APRS

60 Peter Filleul of the APRS notes: “Standards are vital in any technological environment and establishing and maintaining standards in such a volatile sector should be supported even though it is often a thankless task.” The IABM takes a similar approach, co-operating with other bodies. It places members’ technical experts and retained specialists on standards committees to be part of the formulation process. Like the APRS, the IABM’s approach to this role is borne out of a sense of duty rather than as a core element that drives the organisation. Peter White, IABM Director General states: “The process has always been and remains a detailed and time consuming one which requires the dedication and tenacity of all involved.

The AIB offer market intelligence brieﬁngs

InfoComm’s “Ten Standards of Excellence” that relate more to good practice in sales, system design and implementation and customer service. Both, however, are a valiant attempt to assert and motivate a sustainable approach to business among suppliers.

Personal Development
When it comes to industry education and training, trade associations take a proactive role that goes beyond the annual convention scenario. Few organisations could match the depth and scope of the InfoComm University in the AV sector. Consisting of online, on site and virtual classroom courses, available globally and multilingually. Courses cover topics from project management to AV/IT integration and are highly regarded in the industry, to the extent that its certiﬁcation programmes are well established in the sector. This serious involvement in personnel development is increasingly widespread among trade associations and is a sign of greater involvement in the grass roots of their sector. Lacking the resources of larger organisations, the APRS nevertheless boasts an

Shaping The Scene
Where the IABM speaks more loudly is in its commercial and market intelligence for the industry in the form of reports and surveys. These analyses form a gauge for trends within the industry, measure the commercial performance and provides information to support strategic decisions. Its Global Market Valuation and Strategy Report would combine well with the AIB’s confidential market intelligence brieﬁngs. The latter aims to “provide strategic analysis of developments across television,

advanced training programme. Filleul says: “The APRS has been very concerned about the quality and relevance of audio education for more than 20 years. We have had an education and training division focusing on issues in this area and we currently are working with the MPG, Skillset and UK Screen in an FE and HE course accreditation process under a partnership umbrella of JAMES – Joint Audio Media Education Support. “This collaboration comes after years of complaints from employers that graduates from many audio courses were not offering what businesses required. Acquiring a JAMES accreditation is a rigorous process but students will know that a JAMES approved course has greater value in the employment stakes after they have graduated.” The passion is evident and refreshing. It was born out of a belief that education and training is often delivered from outside the industry by companies whose “priorities are not always coincident with the true needs of the sectors they purport to serve”. The recently formed IABM Training Academy shares this
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IABM Director General Peter White

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