TS ISO 37303

TS ISO 37303 provides guidance for identifying and developing the competencies that support the objectives of a compliance management system. Rather than focusing only on compliance rules, it addresses the knowledge, skills and behavioural elements needed to make those rules effective in practice. In that sense, it turns the human-capability side of compliance management into a more structured management topic.

What competence means in a compliance context

In general technical terms, competence is the combination of knowledge, skills, experience and appropriate behaviour needed to perform a role to the expected level. In compliance management, that can differ across functions such as policy development, monitoring, risk identification or third-party oversight. This standard gives guidance on establishing adequate competence levels for certain internal functions and third parties, while explicitly not adding to, changing or otherwise modifying the requirements of any compliance management system standard.

Why the scope matters in practice

• It is applicable to organizations of all types, sizes and activities, including public, private and non-profit sectors.
• It uses one common conceptual framework across internal roles and external third parties.
• It supports the identification, development and maintenance of the competence needed to meet compliance management system objectives.
• It is guidance-oriented, so it helps organize capability without claiming to replace or amend other compliance standards.

For organizations building or maintaining a compliance management system, the value of this document lies in linking governance expectations with real human capability. It helps frame competence as an ongoing management issue, not just a one-time training matter, so responsibilities can be matched with the capability needed to carry them out effectively.