Stakeholders, a real challenge in the rules
ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001

Stakeholders, Interested Parties, Interest Groups; are now part of the new terminology that defines the social ecosystem of organizations. Stakeholders integrate, complete and involve companies, influencing their behaviour and results of their activities, being in turn influenced or affected by them (P.CH. 2015)

Hence its key importance in the most responsible and consolidated companies that know and pursue sustainability and transparency scenarios for their economic, social and environmental accountability.

And that is why, in the latest versions of the ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 45001:2018 standards, the international technical committees have incorporated them as requirements in their clauses for Quality, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.

The change introduced has come to stay, being very recommendable that the more than 36,000 companies certified ISO 9001 and the more than 13,000 certified ISO 14001 in Spain, implement their Projects of Analysis, Interaction and Commitment with their Stakeholders.

1

Interns

  • All employed personnel and professional partners
  • Customers and prospects
  • Suppliers of supplies, raw materials and services
  • Investors/ shareholders/ members of boards of directors who are influential in groups 
  • Project and business line partners
  • Associated companies or members of the group

External

  • Government and regulators
  • Media
  • Actors and influencers in Social Networks
  • Unions
  • NGOs and pressure groups
  • Local communities and entities
  • Competitors/Associates
  • Opinion leaders
  • Academic and scientific community
  • International institutions of various fields

Example of relevant aspects or materials

The following is a list of some of the subjects or aspects that are relevant to be included in the evaluation of materiality.

⚪ ETHICS AND GOOD GOVERNANCE  ⚪ PEOPLE ⚪ COMMUNITIES
  • Transparent and truthful corporate information
  • Ethical and responsible behaviour
  • Anti-corruption ethics
  • Profitability and economic solvency
  • Technological innovation
  • Regulatory compliance of the activity
  • Digitization and automation
  • Involvement in business development
  • Protection of suppliers at source
  • Healthy company culture
  • Reconciliation of family and personal life
  • Staff training and promotion
  • Equality among employees
  • Diversity among employees
  • Generation of quality employment
  • Safety and Health at Work
  • Fluid and proactive communication
  • Providing resources to the community
  • Accreditation of sustainable production
  • Sustainable product accreditation
  • Presence and collaboration with local entities
  • Purchase and contracting at local level (km0)
⚪ PRODUCTS AND VALUE CHAIN ⚪ ENVIRONMENT ⚪ OTHER NEEDS AND EXPECTATIONS
  • Supply chain compliance
  • Product quality assurance
  • Customer and user satisfaction
  • Product safety guarantee
  • Proper labelling
  • Post-sales and post-consumer care
  • Adoption of renewable energies
  • Reduction of the water footprint
  • Carbon footprint reduction
  • Adoption of a circular economy
  • Protection of the environment and natural surroundings
  • Protection of biodiversity
  • Ecodesign of products and services
  • Protection of local resources
  • Relevant activity-specific issues 
  • Protection of private property
  • Non-invasion of intellectual and industrial property
  • Protection of privacy
  • Conditions and term of fair payment to suppliers

Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP)
ISO 9001/ISO 14OO1/ISO 45001 adaptation project

For those companies that wish to start a project of analysis, interaction and commitment with their Stakeholders, Ecomundis offers a collaborative advisory system based on activities, group dynamics and the natural and progressive involvement of the management team of their organization.

With the actions presented below, which are the most recommended to face the new versions of the ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 9001:2015 standards, Ecomundis proposes a self-guided system of assistance, with which the company can plan the transition or even develop and implement specific projects with the direct support of an expert consultant in the field of Corporate Business Responsibility and Stakeholder Engagement.

  • ANALYSIS AND PREPARATION 
    • We meet with you to learn about your EXPECTATIONS, MISSION and VISION of your organization.
    • We plan a PARTICIPATORY TRAINING day with your company's executives and middle management
    • We support and provide tools for the creation of your STAKEHOLDER TEAM established specifically for the implementation of your Project (SEP)
    • We compile all the history and background related to your Stakeholders and their practices, presenting you with the first PRELIMINARY MATERIALITY REPORT.
    • We present a PLANNING PROPOSAL for your organization's five-year STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
  • IMPLEMENTATION AND CONSULTATION

    • Once approved, we activate your STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT PLAN in the form of a Project in the CMS (Content Management System) of Ecomundis/SustainableAction for your accompaniment during the period determined by your company.
    • We establish a collaborative work schedule with your STAKEHOLDER TEAM helping you to organize PARTICIPATION, COMMUNICATION and REPORTING activities with the interested parties.
    • We manage for your company the OPINION SURVEYS, the DESIGN AND EDITION of the CREATIVE AND GRAPHIC ELEMENTS of communication and we can even offer our personnel as a third party for that MEDIATION they consider appropriate.
    • We present the ADVANCED MATERIALITY REPORT completed with the results of the analysis and participation of the most relevant stakeholders.
  • MONITORING AND REPORTING
    • A SEP ANNUAL MONITORING REPORT is presented to the Organization's Management for the purpose of integrating it into both strategic planning and High Level Structure Management Systems (new versions ISO 9001/ISO14001).

References and standards
Identification and engagement

To date, the relationship that most companies have had with these stakeholders has been one of mitigating the threats of their impacts, without seeking a well-led or integrated and coordinated commitment and interaction.

But its importance is such that if we want our organizations to face the challenges of this century with sufficient strength and opportunity, we must establish links of commitment and mutual interest with them [stakeholder engagement]. Already in 2001 one of the most brilliant definitions of Strategic Planning (Johnson & Scholes), introduced the Stakeholders in the heart of it.

Strategy is the direction and scope of an organization in the long term, while at the same time achieving advantages for the organization through its configuration of resources in a changing environment, to meet the needs of the markets and satisfy the expectations of stakeholders" (Gerry Johnson -Lancaster University Management & Kevab Scholes, Sheffield Business School - 2001).

The identification of the Stakeholders and the determination of their materiality or importance is not an easy task nor is it the object of a simple assessment by those responsible for quality, prevention or the environment. It requires an in-depth study carried out by the companies' management in order to find out the Stakeholders' real perception of the mission and activities. It also implies an abundance of the most significant real needs, concerns and demands of the stakeholders and their comparison with the different degrees of influence on the risks and results of each company.

For the successful achievement of these objectives, as well as for the planned establishment of a systematic and fruitful relationship within the company with the relevant stakeholders, I recommend the reading and implementation of some of the following guidelines and works:

  • STANDARD AS1000SE 2015
  • From Words to Action, Volume 1: Practitioners' Perspectives on Stakeholder Engagement
  • From Words to Action, Volume 2: The Practitioner's Handbook on Stakeholder Engagement
  • Global ReportingInitiative. Basic Principles and Contents and Application Manual (specific sections for reference to stakeholders)

The time has come for all types of organizations, large and small, to be able to climb one more step on the road to business excellence without resorting to parallel systems such as the EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management).

Certifying a quality system in the company will now also be a challenge of excellence with its social ecosystem, risk approach and strategic leadership. All in the same rule which is also expected to be less bureaucratic in its application. A further example of this extension of context and scope is the incorporation of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of products and services into the clauses of ISO 14001.

Experience in the adoption of new forms of collaboration and advice, the dynamization of working groups and the incorporation of communication and negotiation techniques are the keys to the work of the companies we manage when it comes to guiding the processes of Stakeholder Engagement.