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 among management consulting professionals. Less than
1% of all consultants have achieved this certification. For more
information see Why
hire a CMC?
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 associations 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.
Every step leading to the CMC
designation has been designed to verify the candidate's professional
competence:
IMC Code Of Ethics
IMC members 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
law. Key provisions of the Code require that IMC members:
- Safeguard
confidential information and 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 Code violation.
Clients
1. We
will serve our client with integrity, competence, and objectivity.
2. We
will keep client information and records of client engagements confidential
and will use proprietary client information only with the client's
permission.
3. We
will not take advantage of confidential client information for ourselves or
our firms.
4. We
will not allow conflicts of interest which provide a competitive advantage
to one client through our use of confidential information from another
client who is a direct competitor without that client's permission.
Engagements
5. We will accept only
engagements for which we are qualified by our experience and competence.
6. We will assign staff
to client engagements in accord with their experience, knowledge and
expertise.
7. We will immediately
acknowledge any influences on our objectivity to our clients and will offer
to withdraw from consulting engagement when our objectivity or integrity
may be impaired.
Fees
8. We will agree
independently and in advance on the basis for our fees and expenses and
will charge fees and expenses that are reasonable, legitimate and
commensurate with the services we deliver and the responsibility we accept.
9. We will disclose to
our clients in advance any fees or commissions that we will receive for
equipment, supplies or services we recommend to our clients.
Profession
10. We will respect the
intellectual property rights of our clients, other consulting firms, and sole
practitioners and will not use proprietary information or methodologies
without permission.
11. We will not advertise
our services in a deceptive manner and will not misrepresent the consulting
profession, consulting firms, or sole practitioners.
12. We will report
violations of the Code of Ethics.
When you see the initials CMC
following a consultant's name, it shows that he or she is a Certified
Management Consultant and has met strict certification requirements of
the Institute
of Management Consultants (IMC) and
the International
Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI) a
proof meaning the consultant has met world class standards of competence,
ethics and independence, and is eligible for reciprocity between ICMCI
member institutes.
