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ISO 26000 Guidance onISO 26000 Guidance on
Social ResponsibilitySocial Responsibility
Development Status, June 2009Development Status, June 2009
An Indus try V iewn Indus try V iewRi sk o f F ai lure
David Felinski, Vice-President IFAN (International Federationof Standards Users) and IFAN Expert to ISO/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 Ri sk of Fa il ur e Tool: Check of Effectiveness
The pre sen t subs et is the on e marked in bold
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Outline (1/2)Outline (1/2)
PrefacePreface
Two Key StatementsTwo Key Statements Missing its Key MarketMissing its Key Market
Volume of DocumentVolume of Document
ISO 26000 will contribute to a more intensive worldwidediscussion of social responsibility and in that context, beconsidered a success.But it may not be the success an ISO STANDARD deserves.Therefore, these slides highlight several risks at a time whenactions still could be taken to minimize them.
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Outline (2/2)Outline (2/2)
Relevance ofRelevance ofALLALL Core SubjectsCore Subjects
Governments ResponsibilityGovernments Responsibility
Governments may misuse ISO 26000Governments may misuse ISO 26000
Certifiers may misuse ISO 26000Certifiers may misuse ISO 26000
Business may misuse ISO 26000Business may misuse ISO 26000
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PrefacePreface
Risks can be viewed differentlyRisks can be viewed differently
These slides describe major risks as seenThese slides describe major risks as seen
by the authors; there may be moreby the authors; there may be more
To highlight them is intended to causeTo highlight them is intended to cause
actions toward preventing theiractions toward preventing their
occurrence.occurrence.
A co ncret e pr oposa l is ma de at theend
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Two Key StatementsTwo Key Statements
n Thehe greatest positivegreatest positiveeffect of ISO 26000 iseffect of ISO 26000 is thehepromoti on of t heromoti on of t hegloba l de bateloba l de bate ononmatters of socialmatters of socialresponsibilityresponsibility
Ind ust ry is i n fa vor of an ISOguidance standard on social responsibilitybu t it must be good enoug h forindustry, which will become the main user
group
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Who will be the Main Users?Who will be the Main Users?
micro
small
mediumlarge
up to 10
up to 50
up to 250
more than250
employees
Industry and Services= Business, 96%
In industries, 98% are micro,small or medium organizations
36%60%
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Missing its Key Market (1/2)Missing its Key Market (1/2)
ISO/TMB WG SRISO/TMB WG SRdid not perform a user surveydid not perform a user survey
in order to get the primary user input into thein order to get the primary user input into the
draft guidance standarddraft guidance standard
AnAn IISD StudyIISD StudyHow material is ISO 26000 toHow material is ISO 26000 toSMEs?SMEs?of September 2008 is available atof September 2008 is available at
http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2008/how_material_iso_http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2008/how_material_iso_
A A Quick User SurveyQuick User Survey is available at is available at
http://www.26k-estimation.com/html/quick_userhttp://www.26k-estimation.com/html/quick_user
http://www.iisd.org/pdf/2008/how_material_iso_26000.pdfhttp://www.iisd.org/pdf/2008/how_material_iso_26000.pdfhttp://www.26k-estimation.com/html/quick_user_survey.htmlhttp://www.26k-estimation.com/html/quick_user_survey.htmlhttp://www.26k-estimation.com/html/quick_user_survey.htmlhttp://www.iisd.org/pdf/2008/how_material_iso_26000.pdf8/14/2019 ISO 26000 (6) the Risk of Failure 2009-06n
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Missing its Key Market (2/2)Missing its Key Market (2/2)
Both theBoth the IISD StudyISD Study and theand the Quic kuic kUser Surveyser Survey show limits to theshow limits to theapplicability and usefulness of ISO 26000applicability and usefulness of ISO 26000
to small and medium organizationsto small and medium organizations The ISO 26000 draft does not seem toThe ISO 26000 draft does not seem to
reflect thisreflect this feedback from realityeedback from realityISO 26000 may risk failing because
direct views of possible users
have not been taken into account
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Volume of DocumentVolume of Document
Micro and small organizations, in general, will notMicro and small organizations, in general, will notstudy 100+ pages in order to check for useful andstudy 100+ pages in order to check for useful and
applicable itemsapplicable items
and in particular, not in the least if they dontand in particular, not in the least if they dont
conduct any trans-border activitiesconduct any trans-border activities and all the more, not so if their activities haveand all the more, not so if their activities have
no interaction with developing countriesno interaction with developing countriesThe 100+ pages have been repeatedly criticized since 12/2006
ISO 26000 may risk failing becausethe document is too voluminous for
most of its potential users
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Relevance of ALL Core SubjectsRelevance of ALL Core Subjects
to ALL Organizations (1/3)to ALL Organizations (1/3)While the SCOPE of ISO 26000 states:While the SCOPE of ISO 26000 states:
This International Standard providesThis International Standard provides
guidance toguidance to all types of organizationsall types of organizations,,regardless of their size or location, on:regardless of their size or location, on:
.and while the logic of ISO 26000 is that.and while the logic of ISO 26000 is thatALLLL core subjects are relevant tocore subjects are relevant toALLLL organizations organizations
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Relevance of ALL Core SubjectsRelevance of ALL Core Subjects
to ALL Organizations (2/3)to ALL Organizations (2/3)this is flatly refuted, particularly by SMOsthis is flatly refuted, particularly by SMOs
SomeSome examplesexamples of non-relevance:of non-relevance:
Micro organizations vs. CommunityMicro organizations vs. Community
InvolvementInvolvement
Locally operating SMO vs. Fair OperatingLocally operating SMO vs. Fair Operating
PracticesPractices
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Relevance of ALL Core SubjectsRelevance of ALL Core Subjects
to ALL Organizations (3/3)to ALL Organizations (3/3) Capital goods manufacturers vs.Capital goods manufacturers vs.
Consumer IssuesConsumer Issues
SMO in highly regulated countries vs.SMO in highly regulated countries vs.Human Rights and Labour PracticesHuman Rights and Labour Practices
and many moreand many more
ISO 26000 may risk failing becauseALL core subjects being relevant to
ALL organizations is not realistic
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Governments Responsibility (1/4)Governments Responsibility (1/4)
Prot ec ti on of i tsrot ec ti on of i tscitizensitizens is the coreis the coreobligation of govern-obligation of govern-ment (life, health,ment (life, health,
property, )property, )
Industries can neither take this obligation,nor substitute government action
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Governments Responsibility (2/4)Governments Responsibility (2/4)
It is governmentsIt is governments
social responsibilitysocial responsibility
to set the l ega lo set the l ega lfr amew orkr amew ork underunderwhich privatewhich private
society relatedsociety relatedactions can developactions can develop
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Firstirst governmentsgovernmentsneed to care for theirneed to care for their
constitution, laws andconstitution, laws and
regulations, and theregulations, and the
enforcement of sameenforcement of same
Thenhen industriesindustries cancanact effectively andact effectively and
sustainablysustainably
Governments Responsibility (3/4)Governments Responsibility (3/4)
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Governments Responsibility (4/4)Governments Responsibility (4/4)
But ISO 26000 creates anBut ISO 26000 creates an
expectation as if theexpectation as if the
private sector couldprivate sector could
improve social deficits byimprove social deficits byitself,itself, wit ho utit ho ut pre cedingre cedingand acc ompany ingnd acc ompany inggov ernme nt act ionov ernme nt act ion
ISO 26000 may risk failing becausethis expectation on the private
sector is not realistic
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Governments may MisuseGovernments may Misuse
ISO 26000ISO 26000The DIS will express:The DIS will express: "This International Standard is not a"This International Standard is not a
management system standard. It is not intended ormanagement system standard. It is not intended or
appropriate for certification purposes orappropriate for certification purposes orr egu l a t o r yegu l a t o r y ororcontractualcontractualu sese . Any offers to certify, or claims to be. Any offers to certify, or claims to becertified, to ISO 26000 would be a misrepresentation of thecertified, to ISO 26000 would be a misrepresentation of the
intent and purpose of the International Standard."intent and purpose of the International Standard."
ISO 26000 may risk failing becausegovernment may mistakenly use itfor procurement purposes
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Certifiers may Misuse ISO 26000Certifiers may Misuse ISO 26000
The DIS will express:The DIS will express: "This International Standard is"This International Standard isnot anot a
management system standardmanagement system standard. It is. It isno t in t en ded o ro t in t en ded o rap p ro p r i at e f o r ce rt i f icat io n pu rp ose sp p ro p r i at e f o r ce rt i f icat io n pu rp ose s or regulatoryor regulatoryor contractual use.or contractual use. Any offers to certify, or claims to beAny offers to certify, or claims to becertified, to ISO 26000 would be a misrepresentation of thecertified, to ISO 26000 would be a misrepresentation of the
intent and purpose of the International Standard."intent and purpose of the International Standard."
ISO 26000 may risk failing becausecertifiers may ignore thisunambiguous purpose description
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Industry may Misuse ISO 26000Industry may Misuse ISO 26000
The DIS will express:The DIS will express: "This International Standard is not a"This International Standard is not a
management system standard. It ismanagement system standard. It isn o to t intended orintended orappropriateappropriatef o ro r certification purposes or regulatory orcertification purposes or regulatory orco n t ra ctu al u seo n t ra ctu al u se . Any offers to certify, or claims to be. Any offers to certify, or claims to becertified, to ISO 26000 would be a misrepresentation of thecertified, to ISO 26000 would be a misrepresentation of the
intent and purpose of the International Standard."intent and purpose of the International Standard."
ISO 26000 may risk failing becausesome business organizations maymistakenly use it in contracts
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Request of ISOs Action (1/3)Request of ISOs Action (1/3)
ISO 26000 is aISO 26000 is a GUIDANCEGUIDANCESTANDARDSTANDARD, offering guidance,, offering guidance,
advice and recommendationsadvice and recommendations
This t ype of Docume nt is new , andnotas commonly known as other ISO products
That gives ISO the chance to address theeducation of users and jus ti fi es after-pu bl ica ti on a cti ons organized by ISO
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Ra tio nal ea tio nal e :: ISO 26000 is aISO 26000 is a
relatively new typerelatively new type ofofdeliverabledeliverable
TheThe lesse ss it isit is unde r-nde r-stoodtood , the, the great erreat er the potential forthe potential for(mostly) unintended(mostly) unintendedmisuseisuse
Request of ISOs Action (2/3)Request of ISOs Action (2/3)
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The fi rs t cas eshe fi rs t cas es ofofmisuse have alreadymisuse have alreadytakenaken placelace withoutithoutthe documenthe document evenevenbeingbeing publi shedubli shed ,, seeseehttp://www.26k-estimation.com/http://www.26k-estimation.com/
Mor e cases toor e cases tocomeome
Request of ISOs Action (3/3)Request of ISOs Action (3/3)
http://www.26000estimation.com/html/misuse_of_iso_26000.htmlhttp://www.26000estimation.com/html/misuse_of_iso_26000.htmlhttp://www.26000estimation.com/html/misuse_of_iso_26000.html8/14/2019 ISO 26000 (6) the Risk of Failure 2009-06n
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How to Manage the Risks? (1/5)How to Manage the Risks? (1/5)
Building on the good work of WG SR TaskBuilding on the good work of WG SR Task
Group 2 on Communications, which mayGroup 2 on Communications, which may
be disbanded after the ISO 26000be disbanded after the ISO 26000
publication, ISO should set up a permanentpublication, ISO should set up a permanentunit calledunit calledISO 260 00 Us er Pl at fo rm ISO 260 00 Us er Pl at fo rm
ISO normally does not care about the use of its standards,ISO normally does not care about the use of its standards,
but here it is recommended in view of thebut here it is recommended in view of the valu e of thealu e of theISO 2600 0 co nte ntSO 2600 0 co nte nt and itsand its globallo bal attentionttention ..
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How to Manage the Risks? (2/5)How to Manage the Risks? (2/5)
TheThe ISO 260 00 U ser Pla tfo rmSO 260 00 U ser Pla tfo rm wouldwouldaddress:address:
2.2. Taking measures to prevent the risks*Taking measures to prevent the risks*3.3. Clarifying any doubts or interpretationsClarifying any doubts or interpretations
4.4. Giving advice on concrete cases of useGiving advice on concrete cases of use
5.5. Helping avoid cases of misuseHelping avoid cases of misuse6.6. Running a website pool of experiencesRunning a website pool of experiences
* More details on the next slides
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How to Manage the Risks? (3/5)How to Manage the Risks? (3/5)
ISO 26000 may risk failing
because
Proposed way
forward
1 direct views of possible
users have not been taken
into account
Perform a user
survey under the
auspices of ISO2 the document is too
voluminous for the large
majority of its potential
users
Redraft the
document down to
some 40 pages max.
or write an ISO26000 User Guide3 because ALL core
subjects being relevant to
ALL organizations is not
realistic
Modify this claim by
leaving the decision
of relevance to the
organizations
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How to Manage the Risks? (4/5)How to Manage the Risks? (4/5)
ISO 26000 may risk failing
because
Proposed way
forward
4 this expectation of
private sector action withoutpreceding and
accompanying government
action is not realistic
Include guidance on
governments socialresponsibility more
explicitly into the
ISO 26000
5 because government may
mistakenly use it for
procurement purposes
Awareness and
education; explain
examples on the
dedicated ISO
website
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How to Manage the Risks? (5/5)How to Manage the Risks? (5/5)
ISO 26000 may risk failing
because
Proposed way
forward
6 because certifiers may
ignore this unambiguous
description of purpose
Awareness and
education; explain
examples on the
dedicated ISO
website7 because some industry
organizations may
mistakenly use it in
contracts
Awareness and
education; explain
examples on the
dedicated ISO
website
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In the endIn the end
it is all in ISOs handsit is all in ISOs hands
..unless users feel the need to develop..unless users feel the need to develop
their ISO 26000 User Guide(s),their ISO 26000 User Guide(s),
But that is not a preferred option.But that is not a preferred option.
Thank You for yo ur Co nside rat io n!hank You for yo ur Co nside rat io n!