ISO 37000:2021 6.10.3: 6.10.3 Key aspects of practice

For the organization to behave in a socially responsible manner, the governing body should: make sure stakeholder expectations are well understood, through ongoing engagement and a mature approach to accountability (6.5); make sure the issues and opportunities that bear on those expectations are identified and stated (6.9); make sure the purpose conveys how the organization approaches its stakeholders; involve every relevant stakeholder when setting and revisiting the values, and champion the values to them; involve them when setting and revisiting governance policies; guide the organization so its decisions and activities match the purpose, values and policies, including a route for stakeholders to report misconduct (whistleblowing, ISO 37002); measure performance against social responsibility objectives; report on those objectives, progress towards them and the results, backed by evidence; and judge how each governing body member's conduct affects social responsibility. It should take account of gains whose costs are borne by others (negative externalities or unpriced impacts), and make sure the organization considers particular measures for the wellbeing of society, recognising that philanthropy is never a replacement for social responsibility built into how the organization works (ISO 26000:2010, 3.3.4).