Institute of Business Consulting

The [http://www.ibconsulting.org.uk Institute of Business Consulting] (IBC)is a professional association of Management consultants in the United Kingdom.

The institute was created following mergers between Institute of Management Consultancy and the Institute of Business Advisers.

The Institute of Business Consultants is part of the Chartered Management Institute, and operates as a separate division of the CMI.

Vision

* The institutes vision is to be the leader of the profession of consulting to management. [ [http://www.imc.co.uk IMC website (accessed 19/03/2007)] ]

Mission

* The mission of the institute is to promote excellence in management consultancy by: [ [http://www.imc.co.uk IMC website (accessed 19/03/2007)] ]

**setting standards and certifying individual consulting practitioners;
**regulating individual practitioners and, where appropriate, practices by providing codes of conduct backed up by disciplinary arrangements;
**providing ways for good practice within the profession to be identified and access to good practice facilitated;
**providing the principal source of comment on professional matters and other issues affecting the practice of consulting to management;
**engaging with all stakeholders.

History

During a major conference held in Paris during the 1950’s, the big 4 consultancy companies at that time, agreed to form the Management Consultancies Association. This was developed further into a professional institute and the Institute came into being in 1962. [ [http://www.imc.co.uk IMC website (accessed 19/03/2007)] ]

In 1993 the IMC gained membership of the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI).

The Institute announced its decision in May 2004, to join forces with the Chartered Management Institute. This finally happened in January 2005, and together the two organisations work to promote and develop management and management consulting. [ [http://www.managers.org.uk/listing_1.aspx?doc=10:975&id=10:966&id=10:538&id=10:347&id=10:138&id=10:11 Chartered Management Institute (website accessed 19/03/2007)] ]

Management Consultant

A management consultant must have: [ [http://www.imc.co.uk IMC website (accessed 19/03/2007)] ]

*Integrity - their clients’ interests come first.
*Intelligence - to follow situations accurately and to develop sound solutions.
*The ability to communicate
* An enquiring mind and be a problem solver - every problem must have a solution.
* Will need clarity of expression - both verbally and in writing.
*Personality - to get on well with people on all levels.

Management Consultancy

Management Consultancy can be divided into the following specialisms: [ [http://www.imc.co.uk IMC website (accessed 19/03/2007)] ]

*Business Strategy
**Long range planning,
**Re-organisation of a company’s structure, rationalisation of services and products, and a general business appraisal of the company.
*Manufacturing and Business Services
**Involving a review of the layout of a production department
**Production control
**productivity and incentive schemes
**quality control problems
*Marketing
**Market research and business forecasting
**Sales force training
**The organisation of retail and wholesale outlets.
*Financial and Management Controls
**The installation of budgetary control systems
**Profit planning or capital and revenue budgeting
**Office reorganisation and administrative arrangements
*Human Resources
**Advising on HR/Personnel policy
**Manpower planning
**Job enrichment
**Job evaluation and employee relations
*Information Technology
**Defining information needs
**The provision of software,
**Systems analysis and design
**Computer feasibility studies,
**Implementing computer applications
**Computer hardware evaluations.
*Environmental Management
**Urban and regional development planning,
** International economic research
**Cost benefit and social analysis studies
**Physical, economic, ecological and sociological studies for the encouragement of quality of lifestyle
*Quality Management
**Setting of policy and strategy
**Customer satisfaction
**Performance measurement
**People management and processes.

Membership

The IMC validates courses leading to both a Certificate and Diploma in management consultancy, and during the 1990’s the Institute developed the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) award.

The IMC has over 4000 individual members and these form Regional and Special Interest groups which offer a full programme of events to all those with an interest in management consultancy. [ [http://www.imc.co.uk IMC website (accessed 19/03/2007)] ]

Professional qualifications

Certificate in Management Consulting Essentials

This qualification provides an introduction to management consultancy. Normally people who are aspiring management consultants and considering a move in to the profession from a functional discipline or for those who wish to obtain an introduction to the skills and knowledge needed in the field of management consultancy.

The qualification covers:
*consultancy role
*consultancy cycle
*client relationships
*communication for consultants
*effective project delivery
*structured, knowledge, research and analysis

Most potential candidates on this course need to have at least two years business exposure beforehand and be at degree level.

To study this qualification candidates must register with [http://www.managers.gb.com IBC/CMI accredited centres]

Diploma in Management Consultancy

The Diploma covers:
*professional practice
*professional development
*managing consultancy interventions
*organising structure and culture
*entry & diagnosis
*interpersonal interaction
*group techniques
*communicating with impact
*effective project management
*tools and techniques for effective consulting

Candidates for this qualification need five years solid business experience and be degree educated.

Certified Management Consultant (CMC)

Candidates who wish to gain the Certified Management Consultant (CMC) award, must demonstrate how they apply their knowledge through practical work based experience as a management consultant.

MSc Management Consultancy

Several universities in the UK offer Masters degrees in Management Consultancy. [ [http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/StudyLJMU/Courses/67764.htm Liverpool John Moores University Management Consultancy MSc (website accessed 23/03/2007)] ] [ [http://www.kent.ac.uk/transmanche/business.htm University of Kent MSc International Management (Consulting) (website accessed 25/03/2007)] ] [ [http://prospectus.leedsmet.ac.uk/main/detail.htm?p=32&course_id=2977&attendance=1 Leeds Metropolitan University MSc Management Consultancy (website accessed 25/03/2007)] ]

External links

* [http://www.ibconsulting.org.uk Institute of Business Consultants]
* [http://www.managers.org.uk Chartered Management Institute]
* [http://www.icmci.org/Home/index.cfm International Council of Management Consultant Institutes (ICMCI)]
* [http://www.managers.gb.com Approved centre for qualifications]

See also

*Chartered Management Institute

References