(ISO: Geneva) -- From traditional sales-related services to intangibles such as banking, tourism, and education, services represent the fastest growing sector of the global economy. They are also by far the largest component of gross domestic product (GDP).

The March 2012 issue of ISO Focus+, the magazine of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), looks at the current developments in the international standardization of services and highlights the positive impact they will have, not only for specific services, but for the global market as a whole.

With the growth in this sector, emerging requirements have given rise to new approaches to satisfy market players and economic partners. A growing demand for standards to support quality, communication, and good practices is needed to sustain the services sector.

For example, the magazine features a case study on how implementing ISO 20252 for market, opinion, and social research can provide major benefits from leading market survey and research specialist, the Ipsos Group.

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