"Management consultants are those organizations and/or individuals that participate in the process of management consulting within a framework of appropriate and relevant professional disciplines and ethics designed for the activity of management consulting."
Source: Institute of Management Consultancy, definition in self-regulation paper (the Institute of Management Consultancy, the UK equivalent of IMC USA, merged in April 2007 with the Institute of Business Advisers to form the Institute of Business Consulting)

In March 2010, IMC USA was accredited as a ISO/IEC 17024:2003 Certifying Body for the CMC®, and the IMC USA Competency Framework was combined with the IMC USA CMC® Eligibility Standard 1 to form the IMC USA Competency Framework - Certification Scheme for the Certified Management Consultant® (CMC®), a comprehensive overview of the certification process.

The Management Consulting Competency Framework defines the competencies and standards for management consultants, and forms the basis of the IMC USA's Certified Management Consultant® qualification (CMC®). The competencies presented herein set forth the knowledge, skills and behaviors required of successful management consultants. There are three levels of progression: early (technical expert), advanced (expert management consultant and CMC®), and mastery (CMC® widely recognized for expertise and actively sought by senior level executives), all underpinned by professional behaviors and ethics.

This framework builds on the initial work undertaken by the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes (ICMCI) in developing the CMC® qualification in 2005, and was further expanded by the Institute of Management Consultancy (UK) into a broader and more robust model which reflects leading practices across the profession.

The CMC qualification is relevant for all practicing consultants to management, including those in large and medium-sized firms, niche firms, internal consultants, networked groups, and independent consultants, and will continue to remain a core offering of the Institute of Management Consultant USA. It defines the "fully competent consultant" and broadly speaking, is targeted at those who:

• Have a minimum of 3 years experience as a consultant, with progressive responsibility for securing and managing consulting engagements;
• Have at least a Bachelor's Degree or two additional years consulting experience with documented professional development;
• Are experienced in all elements of the consulting life cycle;
• Can take full ownership for delivery of a project or a major work stream;
• Have experience in managing others;
• Have demonstrated their contribution is highly valued by clients.

The definition of management consulting is a key driver for the development of our competence framework. IMC USA believes in a sector-wide definition of management consulting:

"Management consulting is the providing to management of objective advice and assistance relating to the strategy, structure, management, and operations of an organization in pursuit of its long-term purposes and objectives. Such assistance may include the identification of options with recommendations; the provision of an additional resource and/or the implementation of solutions."

The Competency Framework

The IMC USA Management Consulting Competency Framework defines those competencies required to be a successful management consultant. The competences are the behaviors, skills, and knowledge that a management consultant is expected to understand, apply, and demonstrate. IMC USA's Competency Framework is built upon the Consulting Body of Knowledge and the core competencies described in this document, both of which are aligned with ICMCI's requirements for reciprocity of the CMC with other affiliated IMC organizations.

An effective Management Consultant requires a balance of behaviors, skills and knowledge:

• Market Knowledge & Capability: This is the application of fact-based knowledge of technical skills, business understanding, sector insight, and external awareness. 
• Consulting Competencies: These are the core consultancy skills, tools, and techniques which are essential in delivering consulting services.
• Consulting Skills and Behaviors, and Ethics: These define the professional skills, behaviors, and attitudes which act as "enablers" in achieving market capability, knowledge and Consulting Competence. They establish the level of credibility and trust between the client and the consultant.

The successful management consultant requires a combination of skills, and provides strategic and tactical solutions to a client. These include:

• Change management skills
• Technical and business knowledge
• Business understanding
• Ownership, management and delivery of solutions to clients
• Project delivery and risk management
• Interpersonal skills
• Ability to transfer skills to others
• Creative and analytical thinking
• Adherence to a code of conduct and ethical guidelines

Some initial observations:

• The boundaries of what constitutes management consulting are becoming blurred. Larger consultancies are offering services from strategy to outsourcing.
• There are low barriers to entry for individual practitioners, and thus clients are becoming more selective buyers.
• Clients are demanding specialized technical knowledge or skills provided by the expert not the generalist.
• The balance is shifting from traditional IQ-based measures to emotional intelligence as predictor of excellence and success.
• The nature of work is changing. New organization models and growth in networked practices are impacting the future work of adults.
• The value of information is diminishing as availability increases. Effective sourcing and application of knowledge is becoming a differentiator.

This competence framework builds on the current CMC model. It aims to give a closer definition of the baseline for all those operating in the management consulting profession as well as considering the skills required for the next generation of emerging management consultants.

IMC USA wishes to acknowledge the work which has been put into document by both its members and those of the Institute of Management Consultancy (UK), upon whose work this document is based.