Short Paper: Preparing the Organization for ISO 26000 Guidelines

Short Paper: Preparing the Organization for ISO 26000 Guidelines

Internal Communication

ISO 26000 is defined as the international standard developed to help organizations effectively assess and address social responsibilities that are relevant and significant to their mission and vision; operations and processes; customers, employees, communities, and other stakeholders; and environmental impact( ASQ, 2019). Walmart has already taken the initiative to help implement ISO 26000, which they have outlined and detailed in the 2015 Global Responsibility Report. One of the most important factors that is recommended for Walmart to aim toward is emphasizing performance results and improvements in relation to employee’s hours and better pay. To improve its performance in satisfying stakeholders, Walmart must implement some changes in its business (Meyer, 2017). Walmart’s employees are being pushed out by self-check-out machines, with results in a reduction of employee hours, status changes from full-time to part-time, and wage decrease.

One recommendation Walmart could do to help satisify the employees would be to give them a slight increase in their commission, especially the ones that are being changed from full-time to part-time. This would show the employees that even though changes are being made to the organizational structure, they are still appreciated. Another recommendation would be to set up some time of benefit plan for part-time workers. Most employers will stop health insurance and other benefits that are needed when employees become part-time.

External

Looking at the TV commercial and the ads, Walmart is one of the happiest retailers for families to shop. They show customers coming in with smiling faces and leaving out with those same smiles but with more satisfaction. Walmart is one of the largest retailers in the country, but is allowing greed to take over some of their values. The supply chains are hurting trying to keep up with Walmart’s prices and small businesses are closing. The suppliers are wanting more competitive rates from Walmart in order for them to also make a good profit.

One recommendation would be for Walmart to compromise more on their supplier pricing. They should use the ISO 26000 to help guide their decision to make more satisfactory leadership actions to understand what is best for the organization. Walmart should agree to meet the suppliers more in the middle, by doing this, Walmart is building better relationships with the supplier and helping to secure long term contracts. This may lead to a slight increase in products or services, but most customers will not notice or stop going to Walmart for a few pennies increased.

References

ASQ (2018)    WHAT IS ISO 26000 – GUIDANCE ON SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY? Retrieved from https://asq.org/quality-resources/iso-26000

Meyer, P. Walmart’s Stakeholders: Analysis & Recommendations. Retrieved from http://panmore.com/walmart-stakeholders-analysis-recommendations