Proposed International Society on Business and Industrial Statistics (ISBIS)

Background

The International Statistical Institute has had a Committee on Statistics in Business and Industry (SBI) for over a decade. The SBI Committee is now preparing to form a new International Society on Industrial and Business Statistics (ISBIS) and apply for section status within the ISI, giving it access to a range of ISI benefits and facilitating the Committee’s ability to discharge its mission.

The mission of the Committee is to support the work of statisticians working in business and industry by monitoring their needs on an ongoing basis, promoting research and applications and best current practices, facilitating technology transfer, and fostering communication among members. The Committee seeks to promote (both to statisticians and to industry) the value and importance of Statistics in Business and Industry, and for supporting suitable activities, particularly in lesser-developed countries. The scope includes statistical methods and practices in all aspects of business and industry.

Over the last decade, we have held international conferences and workshops in various parts of the world (Israel, Egypt, India, Japan, S. Korea, Italy, Spain, Sweden, etc.) either as main organizers or co-sponsors. In 1999, we decided to name the conference as International Symposium for Industrial Statistics, and the inaugural conference (ISIS-1) was held in Sweden (Linköping). Subsequent ISIS meetings have been held in Yokohama (2001) and Barcelona (2003). We have renamed it as ISBIS (to cover business statistics); ISBIS-4 will be held in Cairns in April 2005 (http://www.action-m.com/isbis4). As an international society, we hope to expand the range of activities considerably, as well as provide a worldwide network for statisticians in academe and industry.

Objectives of the future Society

To build international co-operation and association between statisticians working in business and industrial statistics and the exchange of professional knowledge
To seek to advance international co-operation and exchange of ideas and information through conferences, workshops and publications
To promote relations among sections of professional societies or groups involved in business and industrial statistical activities
To increase public awareness of the importance of statistics in business and industry
To foster co-operation at an international level between statistical activities in universities and individuals working in business and industry
To encourage links between statisticians from developing and developed countries

Benefits of membership in the Society

Being part of an international community / network of professionals who are interested in the applications of statistics in business and industry.
Opportunities for members from developed countries to promote statistics in business and industry at an international level; conferences will provide a forum for professionals from various parts of the world to get together, present leading-edge applications and research, and develop collaborations.
Opportunities to develop links with others from developing countries, promote statistics in business and industry in these places through technology transfer activities such as workshops.
Opportunities for members from developed countries to promote business and industrial statistics within their country and region, organize conferences and workshops with participation by professionals from different countries.
Reduced registration fees at SBI Section-sponsored conferences and other events.
The international link and co-operation will help in obtaining support for business and industrial statistics activities in a local region.

Web-site: www.public.iastate.edu/~sbi/

For more information, please email to SBI Chair Bovas Abraham (babraham@uwaterloo.ca).