IIW History 1990-2015

FOUNDATIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION

he means of communication takes many forms. It can be

in the written sense or it can be verbal. It can be in the form of documentation

or it can be as a result of seminars, or similar gatherings, or it can be accessed through

electronic and social media such as messaging and websites, or by visual means through

media presentations and the like. There are numerous means of communication that cover

the full spectrum of activities that are involved in the running of a worldwide organisation

such as IIW.

From its very beginning, the IIW Secretariat

was the central hub aroundwhich all communication

systems emanated and gradually it became the

source of all aggregated information coming from

the activities of the IIWWorking Units. Clearly, the

Secretariat served as the repository for exchange of

information and knowledge on all things pertaining

to welding and its associated activities.

The foundation for effective communication

was initially well recognised by Mr Guy Parsloe (UK),

Secretary General of IIW 1948-1966. Being an historian he was particularly interested

in the dissemination of information and a strong advocate of the Institute’s involvement

in documentation and terminology, which attracted little support from the majority of

engineers.

The means of communication was quite ponderous in these early years and

was dependent to a large extent on a process of typing and copying, then the distribution

of documents by hand or through a slow and sometimes unreliable mailing system. Great

emphasis was placed on verbal reports by the Chair of Commissions. These reports were not

recorded or translated into official documents.

To ensure the Commissions were not working in isolation, the practice of circulating

minutes to Chairs of other Commissions commenced in 1951, eventually leading to the start

of regular meetings of Commission Chairs in March 1953 for the purpose of discussing

matters of mutual interest. The main reason for convening such meetings was to achieve the

‘harmonious execution of complex work programmes for all Commissions’. Parsloe was

influential in producing the first Annual Report of the Executive Council and Secretariat