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Through
the auspices of the Canadian Association of Management
Consultants/Association Canadienne des conseillers en management (CAMC/ACCM),
formerly the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Canada/Institut
des conseillers en management du Canada (ICMCC/ICMC), this Uniform Code of
Professional Conduct has been adopted, in substance, by every provincial and
regional Institute of Certified Management Consultants in Canada and applies
to all their members |
The purpose of this Code is
to identify those professional obligations that serve to protect the public in
general, and the client in particular. The Code is also designed to identify
clearly the expectations of members with respect to other members and the
profession.
"Council" is the Council or
Board of any provincial or regional institute of Certified Management
Consultants affiliated with the Canadian Association of Management Consultants (CAMC).
"Member" is any individual registered and in good standing with a provincial or
regional Institute of Certified Management Consultants in Canada.
Legal:
A member shall act in accordance with the applicable legislation and laws.
Representation: A member shall make representation on behalf of
provincial, regional, or national institute members only when authorized.
Public Protection: A member shall be liable for suspension
or expulsion from membership where that member has behaved in a manner
unbecoming to the profession, as judged by Council.
Knowledge:
A member shall keep informed of the applicable Code of Professional Conduct and
the profession's Common Body of Knowledge.
A member shall strive to keep current with developments in any area of the
profession where specific expertise is claimed.
Self-Discipline: A member shall recognize that the self
disciplinary nature of the profession is a privilege and that the member has a
responsibility to merit retention of this privilege. Therefore, a member shall
report to Council unbecoming professional conduct by another member.
Responsibilities For Others: A member shall ensure that
other management consultants carrying out work on the member's behalf are
conversant with, and abide by, the applicable Code of Professional Conduct.
Image: A member shall behave in a manner that maintains the
good reputation of the profession and its ability to serve the public interest.
A member shall avoid activities that adversely affect the quality of that
member's professional advice.
A member may not carry on business that clearly detracts from the member's
professional status.
Review of A Member's
Work:
A member who has been requested to review critically the work of another member
shall inform that member before undertaking the work.
Due Care:
A member shall act in the best interest of the client, providing professional
services with integrity, objectivity, and independence.
A member shall not encourage unrealistic client expectations.
Business Development: A member shall not adopt any method
of obtaining business that detracts from the professional image of the Institute
or its members.
Competence: A member shall accept only those assignments
that the member has the knowledge and skill to perform.
Informed Client: A member shall, before accepting an
assignment, reach a mutual understanding with the client as to the assignment
objectives, scope, workplan, and costs.
Fee Arrangement: A member shall establish fee arrangements
with a client in advance of any substantive work and shall inform all relevant
parties when such arrangements may impair or may be seen to impair the
objectivity or independence of the member.
A member shall not enter into fee arrangements which have the potential to
compromise the member's integrity or the quality of services rendered.
Conflict: A member shall avoid acting simultaneously for
two or more clients in potentially conflicting situations without informing all
parties in advance and securing their agreement to the arrangement.
A member shall inform a client of any interest that may impair or may be seen to
impair professional judgment.
A member shall not take advantage of a client
relationship by encouraging, unless by way of an advertisement, an employee of
that client to consider alternate employment without prior discussion with the
client.
Confidentiality: A member shall treat all client
information as confidential.
Objectivity: A member shall refrain from serving a client
under terms or conditions that impair independence and a member shall reserve
the right to withdraw from the assignment if such becomes the case.
For some time, the
Institutes in Canada have perceived a need to flesh out the meaning of the Code
by providing a companion set of guidelines to help members interpret each
Section of the Code.
The Ontario Institute (ICMCO) launched a lengthy project, beginning in 1992, to
create such guidelines. The extensive work was carried out under the aegis of
its Discipline Committee, chaired by Anne Patterson, CMC. Interpretations were
drafted by Committee members, by volunteers, or by a panel of selected senior
members of our profession. The drafts were tested with the individual panel
members, and reviewed by the Discipline Committee.
The Statements have now been reviewed by all
other Institutes in Canada. At its October 1994 meeting, the Board of Directors
of ICMCC formally approved the Statements of Interpretation for ratification and
adoption by every Member Institute. Further amendments were approved by the
Board in October 1996.
The Statements of Interpretation furnish guidelines to help CMCs and Prospective
Members understand the requirements of the Code. The Statements elaborate on,
and are more specific than, the related Section of the Code. They should assist
Members in determining how to apply the Code to particular circumstances - and
so to act knowledgeably in compliance with it.
With the passage of time, the evolution of professional thought and the gaining
of experience with the Code will produce a need for added or modified
Interpretations.
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