Structure of ISO management system standards

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines a management system as a set of procedures an organisation needs to follow to meet its objectives. A management system standard provides a model to follow when setting up and operating a management system. Some of the top-level benefits of a successful management system include:

Enhanced use of resources;
Improved risk management; and
Increased customer satisfaction by meeting product/service expectations

ISO has published many management system standards for topics ranging from quality and environment to information security and business continuity management. For this reason, and to help accomplish their business objectives, most organisations have more than one management system standard in place. With this comes a need to integrate and combine the standards effectively because uncoordinated systems take up extra time and resources.

Most organisations have more than one management system standard. Existing management system standards often have different structures, requirements and terminology, so integration is challenging. Uncoordinated systems take up extra time and resources. At CRI® Group, we can help you address this problem. Adopting these standards together in an integrated way will produce less duplication, confusion, and misunderstandings by ISO 31000, ISO 37001 and ISO 19600.

Management system auditors use a core set of generic requirements across disciplines and industry sectors. In the future, all ISO management system standards will have the same high-level structure, identical core text, as well as common terms and definitions:

Clause 1: Scope

It sets out the intended outcomes of the management system. The outcomes are industry-specific and should be aligned with the organisation’s context (see clause 4).

Clause 2: Normative references

This section provides the reference standards or publications relevant to the particular standard.

Clause 3: Terms and definitions

The clause explains terms and definitions applicable to the specific standard and any formal related terms and definitions standard.

Clause 4: Context of the organisation

Clause 4 has four subclauses: 4.1) Understanding the organisation and its context; 4.2) Understanding the needs and expectations of stakeholders; 4.3) Determining the scope of the management system; and 4.4) The management system. The section describes why the organisation exists. The organisation needs to identify internal and external issues that can impact its intended outcomes and all stakeholders and their expectations. It also needs to document its scope and set the boundaries of the management system.

Clause 5: Leadership

Top management is accountable for all management systems. They need to integrate the management system into the core business process, ensure the system achieves its intended outcomes and allocate the necessary resources. Top management is also responsible for communicating the importance of the system to heighten employee awareness and involvement. Clause 5 has three sub-clauses: 5.1) Leadership and commitment; 5.2) Policy; and 5.3) Organisational roles, responsibilities and authorities.

Clause 6: Planning

Having identified risks and opportunities, the organisation needs to specify how these risks will be managed. The management system’s objectives should be measurable, monitored, communicated, aligned to the system’s policy and updated when needed. This proactive approach replaces preventive actions and reduces the need for corrective actions later. Clause 6 has two sub-clauses: 6.1) Actions to address risks and opportunities, and 6.2) Management system objectives and planning to achieve them.

Clause 7: Support

After addressing the context, commitment and planning, organisations need to look at the support needed to meet their goals and objectives. This includes resources, targeted internal and external communications, and documented information that replaces previously used terms such as documents, documentation and records. Clause 7 has five sub-clauses: 7.1) Resources; 7.2) Competence; 7.3) Awareness; 7.4) Communication; 7.5) Documented information.

Clause 8: Operation

The bulk of the management system requirements specific to the topic under consideration is within this single clause. Clause 8 addresses both in-house and outsourced processes. In contrast, overall management of the process includes adequate criteria to control these processes and ways to manage planned and unintended change. Clause 8 has only one sub-clause: 8.1) Operational planning and control.

Clause 9: Performance evaluation

Decisions are required on how performance will be monitored, measured, analysed and evaluated. Internal audit activities are part of the process to ensure the management system conforms to the organisation’s requirements and is successfully implemented and maintained. Management review evaluates whether the management system is suitable, adequate and effective. Clause 9 has three subclauses: 9.1) Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation; 9.2) Internal audit; 9.3) Management review;

Clause 10: Improvement

The requirement for continual improvement in performance and enhanced delivery of stakeholder expectations should be embedded in all management system standards. Clause 10 has two sub-clauses: 10.1) Non-conformity and corrective action, and 10.2) Continual improvement. Clause 10 looks at ways to address non-conformities and corrective action, as well as strategies for improvement continually.

At CRI® Group, our experts can help your organisation implement ISO 37001, ISO 31000, and ISO 19600 seamlessly integrate these management systems. This is the most effective way to reap the benefits of these world-class standards, with Training and best practices that position your organisation to mitigate risk and create actionable systems for increased success.

What are the ISO certification & Training benefits?

When your organisation decides to become certified in ISO 37001, ISO 31000, and ISO 19600, numerous benefits come with implementing these management standards.

Get government tenders: ISO certification is now required in most government tenders.
Build credibility internationally: ISO certification helps your organisation gain credibility to build an overseas business.
Better customer satisfaction: ISO standards enable an organisation to serve their customers better and increase customer satisfaction. ISO certification enhances customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.
Improve product quality: Since product quality matches the international level, this can reduce the risk of order rejections due to the flaw in the product.
Improve business efficiency: ISO certification implementation enhances the functional efficiency of an organisation. ISO implementations help you manage your resources effectively, as you become able to use all your resources to their maximum extent. ISO certification helps you develop SOPs and work Instructions for all your processes.
Improve marketability: ISO certification helps improve business credibility with current and new clients, which leads to creating a niche market for your business.

Our ISO solutions (certification and Training) are offered through our ABAC® Center of Excellence. Powered by CRI® Group, ABAC® educates, equips and supports the world’s leading business organisations with the latest best-in-practice risk assessments, performance assessments, systems improvement and standards certification. Find out how ABAC® can help your business!

Address bribery and corruption in all its forms with ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System

To help combat the threat of bribery and corruption, ISO issued the ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) standard to help businesses, nonprofits, and governmental agencies reduce their risk of bribery and corruption by establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an anti-bribery management system. This is critically important, as bribery and corruption can lead to criminal punishments, fines, regulatory action, lowered employee morale and damage to reputation.

The benefits are immediate when an organisation decides to move forward with ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System training and certification. That’s because ISO 37001 puts methods in place that do the following:

Ensure that your organisation is implementing a viable anti-bribery management system using widely accepted controls and systems.
Give your company the tools it needs to prevent bribery and mitigate related risks.
Provide assurance to management, investors, business associates, personnel and other stakeholders that the organisation is actively pursuing internationally recognised and accepted processes to prevent bribery and corruption.
Help your company create better business partnerships with entities that recognise your certified status, including supply chain manufacturing, joint ventures, pending acquisitions and co-marketing alliances.
Potentially reduce corporate insurance premiums.
Provide your customers, stakeholders, employees and partners with confidence in your business operations and ethics
Provide a competitive edge over non-certified organisations in your industry or niche
Provide acceptable evidence to prosecutors or courts that the organisation has taken reasonable steps to prevent bribery and corruption

ISO 37001 certifies that your organisation has implemented reasonable and proportionate measures which prevent, detect and respond to bribery and comply with anti-bribery laws, internally and externally (i.e. agents, consultants, suppliers, distributors and other third parties). These measures involve top-level leadership, Training, bribery risk assessment, due diligence adequacy, financial and commercial controls, reporting, audit and investigation. Learn more about ISO 37001 standard today. Learn more about ISO 37001 ABMS

Leverage ISO 31000:2018 to improve your business continuity management program

ISO developed the 31000:2018 Risk Management Standard to help organisations address operational continuity and provide confidence and reassurance in your organisation’s economic resilience, professional reputation and environmental and safety outcomes. Like most ISO management standards, ISO 31000 can be tailored to your organisation to help achieve the best results. ISO 31000 Risk Management provides principles, a framework and a process for managing risk. Public, private, and community enterprises can all benefit from ISO 31000 because it covers most business activities, including research, planning, management and communications. Implementing ISO 31000 can help organisations increase the likelihood of achieving objectives, identify opportunities and threats and effectively allocate and use resources for risk treatment.

Being ISO 31000 certified means protecting your organisation from potential risks that could endanger the operational efficiency, governance, and stakeholders’ confidence. It will help strengthen and achieve the strategic objectives of your organisation by establishing a risk-based system of values, enabling your organisation to:

Enhanced risk management will support achieving goals & objectives
Reduce costs through proper risk management
Respond to change effectively & find viable solutions
Create and protect the value
Create a consistent basis for decision making & planning
Increase the likelihood of achieving objectives
Productively identify the opportunities and threats
Identify and mitigate the risk throughout the organisation
Gain stakeholder confidence and trust

Learn more about ISO 31000 Risk Management standard with our free playbook!

ISO 37301 standard provides a clear and comprehensive description of what the compliance function should be responsible for

ISO 37301:2021 provides guidance for establishing, developing, implementing, evaluating, maintaining and improving an organisation’s compliance management program. It covers all compliance-related issues, including anti-trust, fraud, misconduct, export control, anti-money laundering, and other unexpected risks which might aﬀect your business.

The standard acts as a global benchmark for eﬀective and responsive compliance management programs based on good governance and transparency principles. The guidelines set forth by the standard are applicable to all types and sizes of organisations and aren’t restricted by industry, risk exposure or geographic reach. The guidelines set forth in the internationally accepted ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems represent the first step in developing a framework that protects the organisation from falling victim to the many risks associated with corporate bribery and/or corruption. ISO 37301 standard provides a clear and comprehensive description of what the compliance function should be responsible for:

Identifying compliance obligations and translating those obligations into actionable policies and procedures
Integrating compliance obligations into existing practices and procedures
Analysing performance to identify the need for corrective actions
Providing or organising ongoing Training and support for employees regularly
Establishing compliance performance indicators, monitoring and measuring compliance performance
Providing objective advice to the organisation on compliance-related matters
Putting in place a compliance reporting & documenting system
Ensuring the compliance management system is reviewed regularly.
Developing & implementing processes for managing information (i.e. hotlines, whistleblowing reporting systems & other mechanisms)
Providing employees with access to resources on compliance procedures & references
Ensuring there is access to appropriate professional advice in the establishment, implementation and maintenance of the management system
Promoting the inclusion of compliance responsibilities into position descriptions & employee performance-management processes
Identifying compliance-related risks & managing resulting compliance obligations relating to third parties (i.e. suppliers, agents, distributors, consultants & contractors)

ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems