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.

Purpose

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.

Definitions

"Council" is the Council or Board of any provincial or regional institute of Certified Management Consultants affiliated with the CAMC/ACCM.

"Member" is any individual registered and in good standing with a provincial or regional Institute of Certified Management Consultants in Canada.

Responsibilities to Public

Legal: A member shall act in accordance with the applicable legislation and laws.

Representation: A member shall make representations 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.

Responsibilities to Profession

Knowledge: A member shall keep informed of the Code of Professional Conduct and the profession's Common Body of Knowledge. A member shall strive to keep abreast of 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.

Responsibilities to Other Members

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.

Responsibilities to Client

Due Care: A member shall act in the best interests 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 skills 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 Arrangements: 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 that 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 which 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.

Statements of Interpretation

The Statements of Interpretation (found on the Association’s website: www.camc.com) furnish guidelines to help CMCs and Candidates for the CMC designation 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.