Harmonized structure: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)
The harmonized structure (French: structure harmonisée), formerly known as Annex SL, is the common framework ISO applies to its management system standards: ten clauses with identical core terms and requirements. ISO 53001 follows it, as do ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001, which makes integrated systems easier.
Updated: · edition covered: ISO/UNDP 53001:2026
In an ISO/UNDP 53001 audit
In practice, requirements in clauses 4 to 10, from context of the organization through to improvement, recur from one standard to another. In a combined ISO 14001 and ISO 53001 audit, a single management review or internal audit programme can be examined, provided each genuinely covers both subjects.
As in any standard built on this structure, the common core is supplemented by requirements proper to the field, here the SDGs, and the auditor does not assume these can be inferred from experience with other standards. See the page on the harmonized structure applied to the SDGs and the ISO/UNDP 53001 standard.
The ten clauses in order
Clauses 1 to 3 cover scope, normative references and terms. Clauses 4 to 10 hold the auditable requirements: context of the organization, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation and improvement. The sequence follows the plan-do-check-act cycle, and the certification auditor often builds the audit plan around it.
See also
- Management system: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)A management system (French: *système de management*) is the organised set of policies, objectives, processes, roles and resources an organisation uses to achieve given results.
- Leadership: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)Leadership (French: *leadership*, the same word) refers, in standards built on the harmonized structure, to the demonstrated involvement of top management in the management system.
- Context of the organization: definition (ISO/UNDP 53001)The context of the organization (French: *contexte de l'organisme*) covers the internal and external issues that shape an organisation's ability to contribute to the SDGs: market, regulation, supply chain, location, internal culture.
- ISO 53001 harmonized structure: ten clauses applied to the SDGs (ISO/UNDP 53001)ISO 53001 follows ISO's harmonized structure, formerly known as Annex SL: ten clauses in the same order as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001.