ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book offers a way out of the maze of mistrust in the job-anxious world of post-illusion 2009. It is about a sustained effort by high-minded but practical people to develop and implement global standards in multi-stakeholder meetings that are inclusive and open. The book is about practical problems and clear-eyed solutions. It is about managers, workers, and community leaders working together on hard-nosed management and performance systems to implement real improvements in the work lives of people the world round. The book provides real-life stories, factory by factory, of how the workplaces have become more humane and more productive. It describes how Social Accountability 8000 is implemented on-site, how the monitoring tools are used, and how third-party certification makes the job of supply-chain management easier and more transparent.
