From corporate social responsibility to social responsibility

1. TESTING ISO 26000 IN TWO SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED ORGANIZATIONSBy José Luis RamosSenior advisorThe Royal Norwegian Society for Development29th of April 2011Bucharest, Rumania

2. From corporate social responsibility to social responsibility • Corporate Social Responsibility to Social Responsibility (SR). For all types of organizations such as: • Non-governmental organizations. • Non-profit organizations. • Public organizations. • SR has become mainstream. • SR initiatives (national and international) are consolidating their own positions in their respective areas of operation. • SR is becoming more common in developed countries and in urban areas in developing countries.

3. ISO 26000 a legitimate and extensive SR tool also for SMOs • ISO 26000 Guidance on social responsibility (ISO 26000) is probably one of the most legitimated tools for guidance on social responsibility (SR). • ISO 26000 was developed by representatives from more than 90 countries in cooperation with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO): • Governments. • International organizations. • Non-governmental organizations (NGO).

4. ISO 26000 • ISO 26000 covers a great amount of information that needs to be adapted for SMO, particularly for micro and medium sized enterprises. • In the international context the International Standard Organization (ISO) is widely accepted, i.e. ISO 9001 and ISO 1400. • It now remains to be seen if, in the years to come, ISO 26000 will be widely accepted as well.

5. Testing ISO 26000 among small and medium size organizations • The Project “Corporate Social Responsibility, focusing on Environment and Community Development in Romania”: • Implemented by AID. • Partner, The Royal Norwegian Society for Development . • Mainly financed by Norway Grants. • Related to this project  “Practical ISO 26000 Guide for SMO” (Practical Guide) is under development and the first edition has been tested.

6. SMOs selected • The selected organizations: • Located in rural areas. • Characterized by primary production such as agriculture, mining and oil. • The income level in Romania represents only a quarter of the European average. • “at-risk-of-poverty [...] is 23.4 % for the overall population.” That represents the highest rate in the EU. • It is essential to take in account the poverty level, particularly among the rural population.

7. Facts about the SMOs slected

8. Structure of the Practical Guide (1) • Objectives • Description of ISO 26000 • Definition of SR • Principles • Core subjects and issues • Four templates: • SMO’s profile • SMO’s identification of relevant SR’s issues and assessment • SR action plan • SR statement.

9. Structure of the Practical Guide (2) • The process presented in the Practical Guide may also be called a SR review. • The Practical Guide is based on the SR issues included in ISO 26000. • Depending on the size of the SMO it is required a committee or a responsible person.

10. Structure of the Practical Guide (3) The manual is divided in 5 parts. • Information about the organization profile. • Detection of SR issues. • Assessment of the information (SR issues). • Elaboration of a SR action plan. • Elaboration of a SR statement.

11. Structure of the Practical Guide (3) • Assessments in depth are not included in this PG. • Designed in order to use limited human resources, 1-2 days. • Practical Guide suggests six steps: • Step 1 : Detection of relevant issues • Step 2 : Classification of issues (satisfactory/partially or not sat.) • Step 3 : Reviewing of the issues as “partially or not satisfactory” are required to comment about the reason for the classification • Step 4 : An action plan • Step 5 : Elaborate SR statement • Step 6 : Delivered to decision-makers.

12. Process for reviewing own social responsibility

13. The test of the Practical Guide (1) • The testing was performed by the author of this article and a representative from AID. • Gathered information: • Interviews of the Major and the owner of a micro enterprise • Written information • A tour of the facilities

14. The test of the Practical Guide (2) • Difficult navigation: • 227 issues is extensive list particularly for micro enterprises. • It is a considerable challenge for a microenterprise to have high qualified internal human resources • Deleting irrelevant issues from the list: • The review of SR might be easily completed • Risk that irrelevant deleted SR issues may become relevant when other issues are reviewed • Principles, core subjects and issues: • These three terms may create confusion.

15. The test of the Practical Guide (3) SMO’s own needs are not necessary seen from a SR perspective: • Leaders of the two SMO paid attention to own agenda or interests and did not mentioned SR. • The situation in the commune is critical due to low generation of income for covering essential services. • Reduction CO2 of emission by switching from no-renewable to renewable energy source demands high investment.

16. Conclusion and recommendations • ISO 26000 is a legitimate SR tool. • Starting the development of an ISO 26000 Practical Guide for SMO. • Contributing to sustainable development is the objective. • List of ISO 26000 core issues adapted to different types of SMO. • The Practical Guide should be improved by presenting a specific list of relevant issues for specific groups, organizations or enterprises. • High qualified human resources: micro and public enterprises.