Tools for determining external context

When monitoring external context, I recommend considering two kinds of monitoring:

• Strategic and;
• Reactive.

By strategic I mean reviewing the external context when preparing for management review. For this kind of monitoring, I use the PESTL analysis framework in order to support the discipline of questioning the mind around various areas that may affect an organization (politics, economics, social, technology, legislation, and environment). After the PESTL analysis, I recommend collecting positive external issues as opportunities and negative external issues as threats and I organize the information in a SWOT matrix that allows us to determine potential risks and opportunities. Please check these two free webinars where I demonstrate the use of the technique:

• ISO 9001:2015 clause 4 - Context of the organization, interested parties, and scope - https://advisera.com/9001academy/webinar/iso-90012015-clause-4-context-of-the-organization-interested-parties-and-scope-free-webinar-on-demand/
• How to perform management review according to ISO 9001:2015 - https://advisera.com/9001academy/webinar/how-to-perform-management-review-according-to-iso-9001-2015-free-webinar-on-demand/

By reactive I mean, between management reviews top management monitors the system’s performance. For example, last Monday I conducted a monthly monitoring meeting at an industrial organization. The first topic was all about the external context. How to minimize disruption due to coronavirus outbreak?

• What should be changed internally to make the organization safer? 
• What kind of social behaviors should be changed internally? 
• What can sales do to reach customers while fairs and expositions are postponed or suppressed? 
• What most common raw materials can be ordered to minimize potential future suppliers’ closings? 
• What can be done financially to prevent cash flow problems?

You can find more information about external context below:
- ISO 9001 – How to identify the context of the organization in ISO 9001:2015 - https://advisera.com/9001academy/knowledgebase/how-to-identify-the-context-of-the-organization-in-iso-90012015/
- Enroll for free course - ISO 9001:2015 Foundations Course - https://advisera.com/training/iso-9001-foundations-course/
- Book - Discover ISO 9001:2015 Through Practical Examples - https://advisera.com/books/discover-iso-9001-2015-through-practical-examples/