Client & Public Protection
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How ICMCI Protects Clients and the Public
The Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Alberta is a Professional Institute dedicated to both the advancement of the Profession and the Protection of clients and public from the impact of poor management consulting advice, work and/or recommendations.
In the Client and Public protection area we have:
- Proactive maintenance and enhancement of CMC standards to ensure CMC’s working with clients remain high-performing.
- Ongoing professional community vigilance; and
- Responsiveness to concerns or complaints brought to us by clients or members of the public.
1. Proactive Maintenance and Enhancement of CMC Standards
The process for becoming a CMC starts with an application and proof of achievement of minimum entry standards as described in the ICMCA and the other Institutes of Management Consulting across Canada regularly update the standards for initial certification.
- The most recent version of CMC Competencies required for certification were updated in 2018.
- 2018 CMC Competency Framework in PDF format
All candidates for CMC certification must prove their competency to these standards through a combination of consulting client engagement reviews, mentoring reports, client references and an oral examination.
In addition, knowledge levels in various areas of management consulting are required through the completion of courses/exams in:
- Essentials of Management Consulting – proposal writing, client contracting, consulting team leadership, analysis procedures, etc.
- Project Management
- Ethics and Professionalism
- Personal & Interpersonal Skills
Finally, Candidates for certification go through an Oral Exam conducted by experienced, carefully chosen Assessors that explore the Candidate’s knowledge, experience, judgement and ethics.
All the above elements are then reviewed and assessed by the ICMCA Registration Committee which then grant or decline certification.
This certification process ensures only excellent practitioners gain the CMC designation.
2. Ongoing Professional Community Vigilance
CMC’s as part of a professional community in Alberta are responsible for maintaining our standards amongst our own.
- We watch, we encourage, we report colleagues whose practice standards are slipping.
- In addition, every CMC commits to engaging in Continuous Professional Development (CPD) courses, activities, writing, course design/leadership and/or community service which will continually advance their practices.
- Each CMC is required to annually review and renew their attestation to our Universal Code of Professional Conduct.
- ICMCI has a Practice Review and Discipline Committee which annually, proactively reviews 10-15% of our members’ CPD
3. Responsiveness to Concerns or Complaints
Any client, member of the public or a member-consultant can submit a Complaint to our office. This kicks-off a process as mandated by Alberta Government’s Professional and Occupational Association Registration Act.
Our Practice Review and Discipline Committee then starts into the assessment of the complaint and a quasi-judicial process.
The outcome of the complaint process can result in:
- Dismissal of the complaint, or
- Requirement for client restitution, and/or
- Requirement for remedial training or coaching, and/or
- Fine(s); and/or
- Rescinding of their CMC certification.
Making a Complaint about a CMC
Making a complaint about a CMC is significant issue, and one the ICMCA takes seriously.
According to the POARA Act we are required to proceed as follows once a complaint is lodged:
Complaint Proceedings
Conduct
19. Any conduct of a member of a registered association that in the opinion of a Discipline Committee or of a governing body reviewing an order pursuant to section 35
- is detrimental to the best interests of the public,
- harms or tends to harm the standing of the profession or occupation generally, or
- displays a lack of knowledge of or a lack of skill or judgment in the practice of the profession or occupation, whether or not that conduct is disgraceful or dishonourable, constitutes either professional or occupational misconduct or unskilled practice of the profession or occupation, whichever the Discipline Committee or the governing body finds.
1985 cP-18.5 s19
Making a complaint
20(1) A person who has a complaint that the conduct of a member of a registered association [ICMCA] constitutes:
- unskilled practice of the profession or occupation, or
- professional or occupational misconduct, may submit a signed, written complaint to the Chair [of the Practice review and Discipline Committee].
(2) Proceedings on a complaint with respect to a member of a registered association whose registration was cancelled or suspended pursuant to this Act may, notwithstanding the cancellation or suspension, be commenced within one year following the date of cancellation or suspension as if the cancellation or suspension had not occurred.
1985 cP-18.5 s20
Notice of complaint
21 (1) On receiving a complaint under section 20, the chair shall serve notice of the complaint on the member of the registered association named in the complaint.
2. The notice shall include a request for a written response to the complaint in accordance with the regulations.
3. Within 30 days after service of the notice under subsection (1), the chair shall direct
that:
- no further action be taken, if the chair is satisfied that the complaint is frivolous or vexatious, or
- that a hearing be held before a Discipline Committee not more than 60 days after receipt of the complaint, or within any longer period on which the chair and the member agree, to consider the complaint.
1985 cP-18.5 s21
Thereafter – the proceedings of investigation, discipline decision-making, and any appeal are further outlined under the Act and undertaken by the ICMCA Practice Review and Discipline Committee.
