Leadership and commitment in your management system

Whichever management system you put in place, Top management must ensure that the requirements of the management system, including the policies and objectives, are consistent with the strategic context and direction of your organisation, and that the policies and objectives are established whilst ensuring that the human and financial resources needed for implementing the management system are available.

Top Management should take a ‘hands-on’ approach to the management system during interviews and whilst recording compliance to other requirements e.g. determining organisational context, policies, objectives, management review minutes, provision of resources etc.

• How are policies and objectives established?
• Do they align with the strategic direction and the organisational context?
• How are policies and objectives communicated within the organisation?
• Can you demonstrate how policies are understood and applied?
• How are the requirements of the Management System integrated into the business processes?
• How is awareness of the process approach promoted?
• How are resources determined?
• How do you communicate the importance of effective Management System management, and conforming to Management System requirements?
• How do you ensure that the Management System achieves its intended results?
• How do you engage, direct and support people who contribute to the effectiveness of the Management System?
• How is continual improvement promoted?
• How are other relevant management roles supported to demonstrate leadership in their areas of responsibility?

Without solid management commitment, you will not have a successful management system. This is not a commitment in words, it is the continuous and active demonstration to everyone in the organisation that the need to meet customers’ expectations is vital. The actions required of Top Management must include:

• Supporting the management system and actively promoting the agenda;
• Encouraging the goal of meeting customer, regulatory and statutory requirements;
• Developing and supporting the management system by defining and communicating policies;
• Establishing organisational objectives;
• Ensuring appropriate resources are available;
• Implementing and improving the management system by encouraging employees to achieve requirements;
• Reviewing management system performance;
• Ensuring resources are available to improve the management system.

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If you would like to look at how to implement an ISO 9001 quality management system, then simply contact us.
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Or, if you want to see what's involved in more detail, then get a completely free, no obligation, totally tailored ISO Gap Analysis for your business (only available to UK businesses).

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