organization has an element of sensitivity to the environment that never existed before. In doing that, the organization learns how to change, and more importantly, how to change management. This cannot be done overnight. ISO 14001 is a long-term process and through continual improvement the organization can achieve its environmental goals over time.

However, there are conceptual traps to the process of shifting paradigms. The consequence can be confusion. Organizations must be careful about what is put into the standard and what is required of employees who are volunteering to take on new responsibility. If too much is asked of volunteers, they may become disenchanted with the effort.

Does it matter when all of an organization's goals are reached? In reality, an organization should never reach that point, because it will continue to improve forever.