Interesting Discussion ISO to develop a Guidance Document (ISO 26000) on Social Responsibility - some object

Re: ISO to develop a Guidance Document on Corporate Social Responsibility - some obje

bobdoering said:

The concept of an international standard for social responsibility (which has no international norms) is a paradox. How can you standardize behavior that is interpreted differently across the world? It will be the greatest tribute to suffering from self-reference criterion ever documented. Look at the debate of "what is right" for a relatively simple thing like corporate bailouts. Now extrapolate that to every corporate action that extends beyond their doorstep, across the world. It will be non-value added overhead underfoot. They are losing their focus. We need to get political crap out of ISO standards.

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Sooooooo, you've never heard of SA8000?

And Sidney is correct, there is no way to get the politics out because many of the Standards bodies that are members of the ISO are agencies of their respective govenments or the heads of many standards organizations are appointed by thier government....I know of one that is pretty dear to my heart

Re: ISO to develop a Guidance Document on Corporate Social Responsibility - some obje

Randy said:

Sooooooo, you've never heard of SA8000?

And Sidney is correct, there is no way to get the politics out because many of the Standards bodies that are members of the ISO are agencies of their respective govenments or the heads of many standards organizations are appointed by thier government....I know of one that is pretty dear to my heart

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Yes, but do I have to encourage it?

Sure, they may be great ideas....but, really, lets see how far off track we can get. How about the international standard for religion? Why not? Maybe they have to be certified to it before they can be tax deductible. Sift out the cults and stuff, because they are not "right".

Oh, crap....probably just started another standard. Me and my big mouth.

Re: ISO to develop a Guidance Document on Corporate Social Responsibility - some obje

bobdoering said:

Yes, but do I have to encourage it?

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No, you can ignore it, altogether. It would probably be better for all involved.

ISO 26000 development was discussed and vetted via the collective process deployed by ISO. Surely, many people will oppose the existence of such document, and tried to prevent it. But their opinion was overruled.

Personally, I believe, ISO 26000 will not gain much ground, just like most of the guidance documents developed by ISO TC's (such as ISO 9004, ISO 14004 and many more). But, I am glad the issue has been raised to a level of an international guidance document.

Re: ISO to develop a Guidance Document on Corporate Social Responsibility - some obje

bobdoering said:

Yes, but do I have to encourage it?

Sure, they may be great ideas....but, really, lets see how far off track we can get. How about the international standard for religion? Why not? Maybe they have to be certified to it before they can be tax deductible. Sift out the cults and stuff, because they are not "right".

Oh, crap....probably just started another standard. Me and my big mouth.

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Nope, you don't have to encourage it (SA8000), but as a member of the UN we are bound by treaty to it...ISO 26000 is something else though........

Re: ISO to develop a Guidance Document on Corporate Social Responsibility - some obje

The new 108-page CD ISO 26000 was released on Dec 15, 2008 for comments until March 12, 2009. The next plenary meeting will be held in May 2009 in Canada.

Re: ISO to develop a Guidance Document on Corporate Social Responsibility - some obje

Sidney Vianna said:

No, you can ignore it, altogether. It would probably be better for all involved.

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I agree, perhaps we should.

Sidney Vianna said:

ISO 26000 development was discussed and vetted via the collective process deployed by ISO. Surely, many people will oppose the existence of such document, and tried to prevent it. But their opinion was overruled.

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How dare we cast stones at the wise men that climb the mountain to bring down the tablets of truth? Blasphemy!

Sidney Vianna said:

Personally, I believe, ISO 26000 will not gain much ground, just like most of the guidance documents developed by ISO TC's (such as ISO 9004, ISO 14004 and many more). But, I am glad the issue has been raised to a level of an international guidance document.

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I agree. It is difficult to see a process where a new firm anywhere - third world, US, even Europe - would go buy all of the guidance standards prior to building their business plan to ensure that their business is "done correctly". It appears we are trying to make pseudo law, enforced with third party pseudo police.

I guess if we can't make laws, make standards, eh?

Re: ISO to develop a Guidance Document on Corporate Social Responsibility - some obje

Wes Bucey said:

Oddly, it seems to me the very concept of a copyrighted Standard for ethical behavior seems antithetical to the goal of promulgating ethical behavior by virtue of making entities PAY for copies of a Standard and then, perhaps, paying a third party to attest to the entity's adherence to the Standard.

At best, I feel the goal could be served by an international organization (the UN?) publishing a FREE set of "guidelines" for ethical behavior (posted on the internet), which entities could adopt or adapt to their particular circumstances. The idea of a third party being paid to attest to whether an entity followed an ethical Standard gives me an uneasy feeling.

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...and surely we are not acting ethically if all we are doing is following an ISO standard or even a free guideline published by the UN? Ethics has to come from our hearts and our upbringing. Can a standard correct the lousy way in which some man-made laws treat women?

Is ISO 26000 an alternative to the people of some countries rising up and deposing their murderous leaders? Auditors serving-up more fairness? Give me a break!

Democracy cannot be given by third parties. Democracy has to be fought for by the masses of men and women who may then value it as they benefit from it probably in direct proportion of the amount of blood they sacrifice to win it.

Will ISO 26000 lead to bloodless change. Name just one government in this world that ISO 26000 will make socially responsible?

BTW, ISO 26000 states that it is not intended to be a certification standard (the IBM rant therefore puzzles me) so it may be useful as a reference book (for the socially challenged?) when developing and improving management systems.

A standard too far?

Re: ISO to develop a Guidance Document on Corporate Social Responsibility - some obje

John Broomfield said:

BTW, ISO 26000 states that it is not intended to be a certification standard (the IBM rant therefore puzzles me) so it may be useful as a reference book (for the socially challenged?) when developing and improving management systems.

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Good point, would the "target audience" actually read it? And would they have an epiphany of conscience to adopt it?

Re: ISO to develop a Guidance Document on Corporate Social Responsibility - some obje

John Broomfield said:

Is ISO 26000 an alternative to the people of some countries rising up and deposing their murderous leaders? Auditors serving-up more fairness? Give me a break!

Democracy cannot be given by third parties. Democracy has to be fought for by the masses of men and women who may then value it as they benefit from it probably in direct proportion of the amount of blood they sacrifice to win it.

Will ISO 26000 lead to bloodless change. Name just one government in this world that ISO 26000 will make socially responsible?

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I have no idea of why you are associating ISO 26000 with "democracy" or lack of it. Social responsibility has nothing to do with forms of government. There are dictatorships that are more socially responsible than "democratically" elected governments. But that should be discussed in the controversial discussion forum.

ISO 26000, when released, might be used by governamental organizations, but, I believe, the majority of users will come from the private sector.

John Broomfield said:

A standard too far?

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Every month, ISO releases and/or revises numerous standards. See, for example, ISO (broken link removed) Do you intend to object to all of their documents or just this one?

Re: ISO to develop a Guidance Document on Corporate Social Responsibility - some obje

Yes, just the ISO standards that attempt to bring about social change without engaging an electorate.