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THE CMC MARK
CMC (Certified Management Consultant) is a
certification mark awarded by the Institute of Management Consultants USA
and represents evidence of the highest standards of consulting and
adherence to the ethical cannons of the profession.
The Mark of Excellence
When selecting a management consultant, executives are well advised to
seek individuals who meet the profession’s standards of competence and
ethics.
The CMC mark is a valuable aid in this quest. Certification by the
Institute of Management Consultants is the mark of excellence among
management consulting professionals.
Certification
When you see the initials “CMC” following a consultant’s name, it means
that he or she is a Certified Management Consultant and has met the strict
certification requirements of the Institute of Management Consultants. The
Institute was founded in 1968 by the principal association in the
consulting field to establish publicly recognized standards of competence
and professional conduct for the individual management consultant.
Candidates for Institute certification undergo a thorough investigation of
their consulting experience; they are interviewed by a panel of senior
consultants to verify their competence; and they must pass a written
examination evidencing their knowledge of the Institute’s Code of Ethics.
A Code of Ethics
CMC’s pledge in writing to abide by the Institute’s Code of Ethics. Their
adherence to the Code signifies voluntary assumption of self-discipline
above and beyond the requirements of law. Key provisions of the Code
require that the CMC’s:
- Safeguard confidential information
- Render impartial, independent advice
- Accept only those client engagements they are
qualified to perform
- Serve clients with integrity, competence and
objectivity
- Agree with the client in advance on the basis
for professional charges
- Develop realistic and practical solutions to
client problems
The Institute enforces the Code by receiving and
investigating complaints of violations and by taking disciplinary action,
including revocation of certification against any member who is found
guilty of a Code violation.
Standards of Competence
Every step leading to the CMC mark has been designed to verify the
candidate’s professional competence:
- A Certified Management Consultant must have had
at least five years of
experience in the full-time practice of management consulting, with
major
responsibility for client projects.
- The CMC has to provide multiple references most
of them officers or
executives of clients served. These references have been investigated to
assure that the consulting relationships met the clients’ objectives.
- The CMC has had to provide written summaries of
client assignments
(disguised to protect client identity).
- The CMC has had to pass a qualifying interview
by senior CMC’s, demonstrating professional competence and currency in
areas of specialization, application of experience, and understanding of
the management consulting process.
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