International Council of Management Consulting Institutes

History

In May 1987, thirty-two management consultants from ten countries met to explore the common ground between professional institutes which were known to certify individual management consultants. At the end of the two-day meeting the delegates proposed the formation of an International Council of Management Consulting Institutes to improve the certification of management consultants around the world. IMCs of seven countries formed the founding members of the new Council.

In 1989 the Council organizational structure including membership requirements and application process were in place. Membership had grown to ten IMCs with four applications pending. The thirty delegates from eleven countries who attended this session ratified the structure and membership criteria, agreed to establish ICMCI as a Swiss Verein and approved the ICMCI Code of Professional Conduct. This ICMCI Code became the first and still may be the only international code of conduct of any profession.

In 1993 the ICMCI strategic plan was adopted by the members. The features of this plan included: international Standards, support and adherence by Member Institutes, increased international recognition with support (by international influencers and Member Institutes) for certification of competent management consultants to the CMC (Certified Management Consultant) a title originating from our Canadian Member who were delighted to enable ICMCI to use the title worldwide.

From 1999 to 2003 the standards for the competence qualification CMC were developed and agreed. A quality assurance programme was developed to ensure that all awarded the CMC were to an equivalent standard: the first business qualification to achieve this. The CMC is a benchmark of management consultancy competence, objectivity, independence, and professionalism.

In July 2001, ICMCI was granted Special Consultative Status by the United Nations' Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ICMCI since then has provided research based research papers in support of the UN, or its member bodies, objectives.

Since 2007, ICMCI has increased its working with international bodies and organisations including ISO (International Organization for Standardization), CEN (Centre for European Norms), EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development), IAF (International Accreditation Forum) and ILO (International Labour Organisation)

In 2011 ICMCI began a coordinated series of initiatives which have led already to the appointment of ICMCI Academic fellows, the first awarding of the title "CMC Firm".

CMC-Global runs the Constantinus Awards which promote excellence in consulting worldwide.