What is the difference between an ISO Section vs. ISO Element?

[AZ Texas]

In other words, What is the hierarchy between Section and Element?
Is “Section” the parent and “Element” the child or is it vise versa?

For example. (5 is Management Responsibility). Is 5 a “Section” and the followings are Elements?
5.2 Customer Focus
5.3 Quality Policy
5.4 Planning
5.5 Responsibility, Authority, and Communication
5.6 Management Review

[Randy]

You're pretty much right, but don't get all wrapped around the axle worrying about it. You'll also see Clause, Sub-Clause and the like.

Section is normally a major section of a standard like "1" or "3" or "4.2" or "7.5.1.3" and element is synonymous with Clause or Sub-Clause like "4.2.1" or "7.3.3a" or "7.5.1.3.1"....They all have numbers and most have a decimal point or dot or period (whatever you wanna call it)

[Jim Wynne]

In Reply to Parent Post by AZ Texas

In other words, What is the hierarchy between Section and Element?
Is “Section” the parent and “Element” the child or is it vise versa?

For example. (5 is Management Responsibility). Is 5 a “Section” and the followings are Elements?
5.2 Customer Focus
5.3 Quality Policy
5.4 Planning
5.5 Responsibility, Authority, and Communication
5.6 Management Review

Welcome to the Cove.

There is no standard definition of the terms. If I refer to "section" 4.2.2 or "element" 4.2.2, or if I use a symbol such as "§" you still know I'm talking about 4.2.2, so it doesn't matter.

[Randy]

In Reply to Parent Post by Jim Wynne

Welcome to the Cove.

There is no standard definition of the terms. If I refer to "section" 4.2.2 or "element" 4.2.2, or if I use a symbol such as "§" you still know I'm talking about 4.2.2, so it doesn't matter.

Are you sure 'bout dat?

[ssaass]

Elemental approach is used for previous edition of ISO standard.
Now its process approach and clauses of standards are referred as section.

[Jim Wynne]

In Reply to Parent Post by Randy

Are you sure 'bout dat?

Well, I'm not sure you know what I'm talking about, if that's your question.

[JaneB]

In Reply to Parent Post by AZ Texas

In other words, What is the hierarchy between Section and Element?
Is “Section” the parent and “Element” the child

I'd try not to spend a lot of time on these two terms... it is probably going to be confusing and there's other things worth more attention that trying to define these!.

Think of sections as large 'groups' of requirements. For example section 5 is the group of requirements around Management Responsibility.

Think of an element as a single bit of a Standard.

[Ajit Basrur]

Jim is right - elements and sections could be used interchangeably. I have read this somewhere but unable to find it now