MILWAUKEE, WIS.—ASQ now offers ISO 26000: Guidance on Social Responsibility, the new international standard on social responsibility (SR). The standard provides global guidance for both private and public sector organizations of all types. ASQ serves as the administrator for the U.S. Technical Advisory Group of subject matter experts that contributes to the development of the standard.
The standard focuses on seven key aspects of social responsibility: organizational governance, community involvement and development, environment, fair operating practices, consumer issues, labor practices and human rights. While ASQ embodies and supports all seven subjects, it initially is concentrating on the areas that will deliver the greatest value to the quality community: organizational governance; environment; and community involvement and development.
“This new international standard is the collaborative work of individuals dedicated to social responsibility,” said Paul Borawski, executive director and chief strategic officer, ASQ. “There could not be a more timely opportunity for organizations to join in the SR movement and make their voices heard about the issue of social responsibility. One way is to use this standard to guide them on their SR program implementation.”
SR Resources Available
To assist organizations with implementation of the new SR standard, and to help organizations achieve SR business results, ASQ has also developed a portfolio of products and services. These include:
• A new guidebook “ISO 26000 Explained”—available in November/December 2010.
• The 2011 Pathways to Social Responsibility Conference scheduled for June 16 to 17, 2011, in San Francisco.
• An SR white paper developed in collaboration with Manpower Inc., available November 2010, focusing on the role of the quality professional in SR efforts.
• Case studies profiling effective practices in Pathways to Social Responsibility: Successful Practices for Sustaining the Future.
• A series of webinars on the topic of SR.
As part of its growing effort to assume a leadership role locally and internationally in the SR movement, ASQ created the Socially Responsible Organization (SRO) initiative, www.TheSRO.org.
