Engaging with Stakeholders

One of the key changes that a commitment to SD has delivered is an acceptance that it is necessary to involve external stakeholders in dialog and the decision-making process right from the start of a project. That involvement varies from specific engagement on the particular implications of a new project, to work on overall policy themes such as human rights. 

Some of this work has led to partnerships with international organizations on major issues such as biodiversity or climate change to ensure that Shell has access to the widest expertise and is in touch with the latest thinking in these areas. 

On biodiversity, Shell is working with partners ranging from the IUCN to UNESCO on policy development, and with the Smithsonian Institution on the effect of oil operations on the local environment in Gabon. In addition, it works with industry partners to develop and share best practice. 

Informed by these relationships, Shell developed a biodiversity policy, which applies across the Group. It led it to announce, in August 2003, a commitment not to explore for oil and gas in Natural World Heritage sites. This was welcomed by many conservation groups and helps to create a situation where Shell is seen as being a legitimate part of the overall debate on where it is acceptable for extractive industries to operate. 

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What types of engagement can be considered Surveys, focus groups and citizens juries are all well-established methods for engaging with stakeholders (Wilsdon et al. 2005). However, we must ensure that the costs are proportionate to the problem. Workshops and visits to key stakeholders may be more appropriate in some circumstances. 

Germany Engage with stakeholders Develop rapid methods to set EU product standards... 

Recommendation la. While engaging with stakeholders, BOEM should undertake rulemaking and adopt a full SMS rule at a level of detail that includes the baseUne elements identified in Chapter 5 of this report or at a level comparable with that of the SEMS for the oil and gas industry. BOEM and BSEE should investigate the appropri-... 

Flame retardants in printed circuit boards partnership. Circuit boards are commonly used in electronics in consumer and industrial products, including computers and cell phones. In order to ensure fire safety, manufacturers commonly produce circuit boards with flame-retardant chemicals. While serving an important performance function, some flame-retardant chemicals can be harmful if released into the environment. To better understand the issues and the full range of options for flame-retarding circuit boards, DfE is engaging with the electronics industry and other stakeholders in a partnership. 

Leadership companies no longer see stakeholder engagement as an optional means to touch base with a variety of interest groups but rather as a critical part of their business strategy. In many cases, companies are using stakeholder engagement to enter challenging markets, resolve or head off confrontations with stakeholder activists, and improve or preserve their reputation in communities and the marketplace. 

The key test of effectiveness is whether any of these assurance mechanisms enhance the perceived credibility and reliability of reported information in the eyes of a particular stakeholder group. Additional work needs to be done in this area to determine which of these mechanisms meets the needs of different target audiences, including internal and external audiences. At this stage, companies may benefit most by focusing their efforts on pointed discussions and engagement with key stakeholder groups to understand current trust barriers and to identify what companies can do to increase their stakeholders level of trust and confidence in reported data and information - and in the company itself. 

Building social capital is about engaging with external stakeholders, such as local communities, and supporting employees. Examples include a job creation program at Berre, where site facilities were offered for use by start-up companies to create new jobs, and the promotion of diversity among employees. 

In Euro-limpacs we are considering these issues at the global, regional and local (catchment) scales, and engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to provide advice and to develop a decision snpport system (DSS) of practical value to the user community. 

The approach is not always applied consistently by the design organisation, sometimes leading to rework when the design organisation engages with their certification authority. Stakeholder expectations often vary. 

Anticipate and engage all stakeholders. There is much at stake in major curricular reform, and many individuals in positions of responsibility, authority, and personal intellectual investment are available to help, or to hinder, if personal and professional relationships are not thoughtfully developed and nurtured. With all on board, difficulties become minor bumps in the road with key players left wondering what is happening, the same difficulties can become insurmountable obstacles. Collaboratively developed materials are likely to transition successfully to the classroom the same materials inflicted on over-burdened teachers are likely to fail. 

Communication with stakeholders about the risk assessment s results is important to give account of one s professional decisions. By ensuring that key stakeholders are engaged in both the data collection process for the risk assessment and the decision-making for risk control, the decision-maker will get commitment and support for his QRM. Documentation will make communication easier. There should be a report for every risk assessment, of which the level is proportional to the level of risk. 

Engaged with more than 350 potential stakeholders... 

Access to a joint platform for discussion and engagement with other stakeholders... 

The readership of FZ online has, after a peak of activity in 2005, now seemed to have reached a steady state of about 3000 log records per quarter. The vast majority of usage is from the developed world (especially Europe and North America), a level that is an order of magnitude above that of Africa. African stakeholders are not engaging with the project. Why this is so is not clear, perhaps because of a lack of reliable internet cormections, or competition from other initiatives (such as Aluka or the online Flora of Zimbabwe). If it is that problems lie with the online format, then there may be justification for an offline version of the Flora, which could be distributed either by download, on CD-ROM or DVD existing interactive key software could prove a suitable medium for such a product and might also incorporate identification tools such as an Interactive Key To African Plants. ... 

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