ISO 9001 - A Matter of Circumstance

​Understanding the Organization and its Context (4.1)

​​​This is the combination of those internal and external factors that affect an organization's approach to the way in which it provides products and services that are delivered to its customer. In the simplest terms, these are the circumstances that affect the way we do business. 

Below are a few examples:

Internal Factors

• Employee relations
• Organizational structure
• Company financial performance
• Organizational culture

External Factors

• Potential legislative or regulatory changes
• Inherent environmental risks (fire, flood, hurricane)
• Economic factors
• Changes in technology
• Competition

​This is just a sample list. Can you think of any others?