According to the new work item proposal the standard should:

• assist organizations in addressing their social responsibilities while respecting cultural, societal, environmental and legal differences and economic development conditions;
• provide practical guidance related to operationalizing social responsibility, identifying and engaging with stakeholders, and enhancing credibility of reports and claims made about social responsibility;
• emphasise performance results and improvement;
• increase confidence and satisfaction in organizations among their customers and other stakeholders;
• be consistent with and not in conflict with existing documents, international treaties and conventions and existing ISO standards;
• not be intended to reduce government's authority to address the social responsibility of organizations;
• promote common terminology in the social responsibility field; and
• broaden awareness of social responsibility.