Ethics, Responsibility to Society or an individual, Ideology to not act against the interest of any such person or group or society as a whole or working towards the interest of society. This responsibility can be passive, by avoiding engaging in socially harmful acts, or active, by performing activities that directly advance social goals. In short, make life easy, not difficult.
Apparently International Standards Organization is now going to develop a an international standard to provide guidelines for adopting and disseminating social responsibility, ISO 26000. At present companies only have a self-proclaimed policy of Social Responsibility. I've not seen the final insturment of ISO 26000 and it will be a pleasure to see, who is going to engage into getting this certification.
Corporate conscience, Corporate citizenship, Social performance, or Sustainable responsible business. Terms we'll hear, as ordinary citizens of the World, would always look forward to this.
The funniest part is it is non-binding. Like a pledge on honour. If I do not excercise my social responsibility, you can only say, I'm not an honorable man. But you cannot penalize me for this, right?
If you are working for a company that endangers you, your lives at sea, in the hands of pirates, that is not proactive towards a deficiency, that is asking you to compromise on commercial requirements against the safe practices and that gauges your effectiveness not by your competency at work, but by your competency at passing inspections with minimum observations, the social responsibility is lacking.
If you work for a company, that requires you to run the show, that tells you that you have to manage, but provides negligible support in terms of training, has no willingness to care for you, it is not socially responsible.
If anyone lacks in commitment, competence, attitude and providing the right motivation, then they do not want to really change the mindset with respect to ship mangement. It takes strong leadership, sometimes by example, clear directions and the opportunity to contribute that would make it effective.
Unfortunately, our industry still does not realize this. With the frequent and constant changes of crew and the movement of shore staff, the best intentions to change and adopt a safety culture go waste.
Quoting from a well known professional (Capt. Andrew Mitchell) in the safety management field,
"Gaining the Document of Compliance is only the first step in the process; the demonstration that the company is in compliance with the legislation and has, through the safety management system, the tools in place to move forward to the next step".
Your company has the DOC. It also has 100 ships with the SMC. The directors are making money. Where next?
I truly, believe this is what is Social Responsibility. Though, everyone else has the right to differ.
Will BP do it, with its Gulf of Mexico spill. Possibly.
Will Exxon do it, after its Fiasco at Alaska (Exxon Valdez), Possibly.
Will the popular Financial Institutions, banking and non-banking do it, given the present scenario, where the Chief executives make millions, but the banks have to be rescued?
Will the Governments across the World be able to do it either? I'm sure, if Amnesty International or Human Rights groups, not forgetting Green Peace etc. would agree to any such certifications?
Well some may, but the important thing to remember is the entire exercise is mostly on paper. And besides, the well known, cash surplus companies may be able to do so, not others. It is important that you identify such traits.
Well some may, but the important thing to remember is the entire exercise is mostly on paper. And besides, the well known, cash surplus companies may be able to do so, not others. It is important that you identify such traits.
Corporate conscience, Corporate citizenship, Social performance, or Sustainable responsible business. Terms we'll hear, as ordinary citizens of the World, would always look forward to this.
In shipping today, the way Social Responsibility is practiced, is a joke of the terminology itself. For any company that proclaims they adhere to this policy do subscribe mostly to the passice application, never active application.
The funniest part is it is non-binding. Like a pledge on honour. If I do not excercise my social responsibility, you can only say, I'm not an honorable man. But you cannot penalize me for this, right?
One of the fundamentals of sound economics that would always provide for an active exercise of Social Responsibility is "both the parties must profit from the business transaction". However, in real terms, it is never practiced. Or else if practiced, as a normal person, we always tend to be the person who wants to be better off in comparison to others.
If you are working for a company that endangers you, your lives at sea, in the hands of pirates, that is not proactive towards a deficiency, that is asking you to compromise on commercial requirements against the safe practices and that gauges your effectiveness not by your competency at work, but by your competency at passing inspections with minimum observations, the social responsibility is lacking.
If you work for a company, that requires you to run the show, that tells you that you have to manage, but provides negligible support in terms of training, has no willingness to care for you, it is not socially responsible.
If anyone lacks in commitment, competence, attitude and providing the right motivation, then they do not want to really change the mindset with respect to ship mangement. It takes strong leadership, sometimes by example, clear directions and the opportunity to contribute that would make it effective.
Unfortunately, our industry still does not realize this. With the frequent and constant changes of crew and the movement of shore staff, the best intentions to change and adopt a safety culture go waste.
Quoting from a well known professional (Capt. Andrew Mitchell) in the safety management field,
"Gaining the Document of Compliance is only the first step in the process; the demonstration that the company is in compliance with the legislation and has, through the safety management system, the tools in place to move forward to the next step".
Your company has the DOC. It also has 100 ships with the SMC. The directors are making money. Where next?
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