ISO 26000 (5) Success Criteria 2009-06

8/14/2019 ISO 26000 (5) Success Criteria 2009-06

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ISO 26000 Guidance onISO 26000 Guidance on

Social ResponsibilitySocial Responsibility

Development Status, June 2009Development Status, June 2009An Industry ViewAn Industry View

Success Criteria

David Felinski, Vice-President IFAN (InternationalFederation of Standards Users) and IFAN Expert toISO/TMB WG SR, andGuido Guertler, ICC Observer to ISO/TMB WG SR


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Available Slide SeriesAvailable Slide Series

The Project ISO 26000 Contents and Players

Applicability Aspects ISO 26000 CD Vote by March 2009 Success Criteria Risk of Failure

Tool: Check for Effectiveness

The present subset is the one marked in bold


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OutlineOutline

What exists around ISO 26000?What exists around ISO 26000? ISO 26000; success merely by existence?ISO 26000; success merely by existence?

1: Meeting NWIP and Design1: Meeting NWIP and Design

SpecificationSpecification

2: Applicability to2: Applicability to ALLALL OrganizationsOrganizations

3: Relevance of3: Relevance ofALLALL Core SubjectsCore Subjects

4: Volume of Document4: Volume of Document

5: Easy to Understand5: Easy to Understand

6: Terms and Definitions6: Terms and Definitions

7: Equal Meaning of Language Versions7: Equal Meaning of Language Versions


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What Exists Around ISOWhat Exists Around ISO

26000? (1/3)26000? (1/3)

many other documents on SocialResponsibility

Standards

Laws

Regulations

Conventions

at the different levels - binding and not binding

ones

national

InstrumentsCodes

organizational regional

internationalmultinational

?ISO 26000?


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All the other documents, codes,All the other documents, codes,international instruments etc.international instruments etc.

already exist .already exist .


26000? (2/3)26000? (2/3)

The scope says: It is intended tocomplementother instruments andinitiatives related to socialresponsibility, andnot to replace

them.

ISO 26000, the UBERStandard, Code,

Instrument? ?


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ToTo replacereplace others?others? ISO wouldISO would not have thenot have the

authorityauthorit

y!!

ToTo complementcomplementallall others:others: is ais a virtually impossiblevirt

ually impossibletasktask


26000? (3/3)26000? (3/3)

a wise

decision to draft aGuidance Standard,which

users can select relevantportions from, and

that are complementaryto

their existing actions

! !


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ISO 26000;ISO 26000; Success Merely BySuccess Merely By

ExistenceExistence? (1/2)? (1/2)

Not at all!

but as a relevant and usefulGuidance Standard, it must alsomeasure up to its criteria forsuccess

Of Course, the ISO 26000

will: Intensify global discussionand

awareness Be recognized for itsextensive

content


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ISO 26000;ISO 26000; Success Merely BySuccess Merely By

ExistenceExistence? (2/2)? (2/2)

Criticalfactors: Volume

Meeting theDesign

Specification

Applicability toALL

organizationsRelevance ofALL

Core Subjects

Equal Meaningof Language

Translations

Terms and

DefinitionsEasy to

understand

ISO2600

0


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Spec (1/8)Spec (1/8)

assists organizationsin addressing

their social responsibilities while

respecting cultural, societal,environmental and legal differences

and economic development conditions;

yes

Requirement* Fulfillment

*according to N049 Design

emphasizes performance results and

improvement;yes


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Spec (2/8)Spec (2/8)Requirement* Fulfillment


Specification

provides practical guidance related to

- operationalizing social responsibility;- identifying and engaging with

stakeholders; and

- enhancing credibility of reports and claims

made about social responsibility;

yes


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increases confidence and satisfaction

in organizations among their customers

and other stakeholders;

debatable

is consistent with, and not in conflict

with, existing documents, international

treaties and conventions and existing

ISO standards;

needs to be

checked

case-by-

case


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is not intended to reduce government's

authority to address the social responsibility of

organizations;

debatable

promotes common terminology in the field of

social responsibilityyes

broadens awareness of social responsibility yes


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the standard should be applicable by all

types of organizations (e.g. regardless of

their size, location, the nature of their

activities and products, and the culture,

society and environment in which they carry

out their activities.)

no

limiting the proliferation of SR sector

standards;no


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facilitate trade liberalization and remove

trade barriers (implement open and fair

trade); and

dubious

complementand avoid conflicts with other

existing SR standards and requirements.needs to be

checked

case-by-

case


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Easy to read, or, as quoted in the Design

Specification N049, lines 63 and 64:

The language must be clear,

understandable and objective

throughout the guidance standard.

no


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Spec (8/8)Spec (8/8)

Summary in figures: 13 requirements in total

--5 are met3 are debatable/dubiuos

2need case-by-casechecks

3 seem not to be met


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2: Applicability to ALL2: Applicability to ALL

OrganizationsOrganizations

The IISD Study and the QuickUser Survey found that theapplicability by all

organizationswill be limited and that SMOsespecially will have problems

Volume and Language inparticular are seen ashindrancesA user survey conducted by ISOcould help to increase the market

relevance


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3: Relevance of ALL Core3: Relevance of ALL Core

SubjectsSubjects

Interviewed organizations*denied that ALL core subjects

would be relevant to them

The decision about relevance of

a core subject should be left tothe organization attempting toenhance its social responsibility

* having participated in the Quick UserSurvey


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4: Volume of Document4: Volume of Document

Interviewed organizations*asserted that a volume of morethan 100 pages is by far too largeto be practicable, emphasized by

SMOs in particular!The content could be shortened

to half the volume without losing

substance

* having participated in the Quick UserSurvey

A shorter document would be morepalatable and practical, as underscoredby multiple comments from numerousand disparate sources since 2006


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5: Easy to Understand5: Easy to Understand

Interviewed organizations* found thetext:- not easy to understand- too much use of a pedagogic style- the extensive use of should**

conveys an implicit imperativerather than offering informed

encouragement

* having participated in the Quick User

Survey**

A substantive re-write to address thesedeficiencies would be a beneficial valueproposition, and can never be too late

d fi i i


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(1/4)(1/4)

An ISO document should not usebroadly interpreted and undefinedterms like

- welfare of society- expectations of society, or- International Norms of Behaviour Nebulous terms need to be

understandably* defined which isnot the case for several (see nextslides)

* understandable for possible users, notforexperts

6 T d D fi i i


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2.192.19 stakeholderstakeholder

individual or group that hasindividual or group that has anan

interestinterest inin anyany activities or decisionsactivities or decisions

of an organizationof an organization** Deficiency:Deficiency:

- an interest and- an interest and

- any- anycan be interpreted indefinitelycan be interpreted indefinitely


(2/4)(2/4)

* Source: draft working version of 19 June 2009

d fi i i6 T d D fi i i


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2.102.10 international norms of behaviourinternational norms of behaviour

expectationsexpectations of socially responsibleof socially responsible

organizational behaviour derived fromorganizational behaviour derived from

customarycustomary

international law,international law,

generallygenerally

acceptedaccepted principles of international law, orprinciples of international law, or

intergovernmental agreements (such asintergovernmental agreements (such as

treaties and conventions) that aretreaties and conventions) that are universallyuniversallyoror nearly universallynearly universally recognizedrecognized**

Deficiencies exist by usingDeficiencies exist by using undefined termsundefined terms

in thisin this definitiondefinition like expectations,like expectations,

customary, generally accepted, universally,customary, generally accepted, universally,

nearly universallynearly universally


(3/4)(3/4)

* Source: draft working version of 19 June 2009

d fi i i6 T d D fi iti


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(4/4)(4/4)Easily understandableterms and definitions arekey to the applicability ofevery standard

New?

Terms and definitions should bedouble-checked by possibleUSERS, particularly from the

SMO faction

Experts consensus ondefinitions is all well and

good, but users decide abouttheir acceptance.

7 E l M i f L7 E l M i f L


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7: Equal Meaning of Language7: Equal Meaning of Language

VersionsVersionsTranslation from English into the multiplelanguages used is a very significant andsubstantial problem!Key nouns andkey verbsneed to have the

same meaning in all languages; like- stakeholder- social, societal- welfare of society

- should, can, may, mightWithout this equal meaning the ISO

26000 will create confusion ratherthan globally enhance social

responsibility


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OutlookOutlook

Unless the DIS (Draft InternationalUnless the DIS (Draft International

Standard, anticipated in SeptemberStandard, anticipated in September

2009) meets these main success2009) meets these main success

criteriacriteria

the market success of ISO 26000 willthe market success of ISO 26000 will

not be the one it deservesnot be the one it deserves

particularly in view of the hundredsparticularly in view of the hundreds

of millions of dollars and thousands ofof millions of dollars and thousands of

expert-hours already, and yet-to-be,expert-hours already, and yet-to-be,

investedinvested

Documents

ISO 26000 (5) Success Criteria 2009-06