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 designation is a valuable aid in this quest. Certification by the Institute of Management Consultants is the mark of excellence management consulting professionals.

Certification

When you see the inititals "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 Institution was founded in 1968 by the principal associations in the consulting field to etablish 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 CMCs:

• Safeguard confidential information
  
  
• Render impartial, independent advice
  
  
• Accept only those client engagements they are qualified to perform
  
  
• 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 designation has been designed to verify the candidate's professional competence:
  
  
• A Certified Management Consultant must have had at least three years of experience in the full-time practice of management consulting, with major responsibility for client projects during at least one of those years.
  
  
• The CMC has had 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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