ASP Strategic Planning Certification Program:
Governance Issues and Approach
Final Updated—April, 2010
Synopsis
A functional governance structure is necessary to manage the ASP Standards and Certification Program. Since we will rely primarily on volunteer labor, this requires a clear and simple infrastructure to manage and coordinate the process pipelines involved.
While the task force has elected not to seek IACET accreditation at this time due to time/ cost issues, our governance must be sound enough to warrant accreditation if ASP decides to pursue this path later. The serious effort made to ensure a rigorous Body of Knowledge (BOK) will be maintained during rollout and management of the certification process.
Key Infrastructures:
The program can be managed through these functional infrastructures.
1. Overall Operations Team
The Operations team will have overall responsibility for the ASP Standards and Certification Program reporting to the Board President and VP. Within its overall responsibility, it includes responsibility and accountability for focusing on:
- Financial Management and Viability
- Marketing and Communications of the Program
- Ensuring the other Infrastructures here do their jobs too.
- Focus on the long term strategic direction
- Overall Website leadership of the Standards and Certification Program component.
- Focus on oversight of the daily operations issues of the other Infrastructures here
2. ASP Certification Program Coordinator (Reports to Operations Team Leader as well as supports the day-day of the Certification Team, REP Team and Executive Director in their activities)
This person would be the access point for those seeking certification. This is an incentive-based and not salaried position, with them receiving a percentage of application, testing and other fees as an incentive to stay focused, promote the program, and assist enrollees through completion, market the Program and work closely with Professional Testing Corporation of NYC as well as the other bodies here.
Responsibilities would include ensuring that the website has current information, following up on enquiries, guiding prospects them through the application process, and coordinating the application review/testing and approval process with the Governance body. They also must be proactive in marketing this Program both within ASP and outside it to lots of other potential Associations and potential planning candidates, universities and colleges.
He/she should be an organized individual, who is a self starter, positive, outgoing and people oriented. A full job description is available as well.
3. REP Qualifications Team (Reports to ASP Certification Program Operations Team)
On a separate track, the task force is identifying applicant requirements (including required coursework to apply for and maintain certification.) This will translate into a defined number of hourly credits from courses, seminars, college, etc. ASP will use the PDU concept (Professional Development Units) whereby one contact hour = one PDU.
Because ASP does not have the capacity to deliver courses covering the BOK, this seven- nine person REPs Qualification Team (size based on the volume of traffic) will identify and authorize a manageable number of external Registered Education Providers (REPs) whose programs match our Body of Knowledge and its components. These will include universities, consulting and training organizations, and individuals with significant expertise as we want to be inclusive of all qualified organizations and people rather than exclusive
In addition, the REP Qualification Team will have three non-voting Ex-Officio Members; the Chair of the Operations Team, the ASP Certification Program Coordinator and the ASP Executive Director
This Qualifications Team would choose its own Chair and Vice Chair and have three year terms, staggered at the beginning to ensure re-election for two-three positions each year (6-9 TOTAL)
It seems wise to start with those REPs who can currently provide CEU’s, either on their own or through an accredited university which has been sanctioned by IACET. This can be viewed as a proxy measure for evaluating REP maturity and quality. Their ability to provide CEUs for those who want/need them frees ASP from the necessity of taking on this record-keeping intensive task. (1 CEU = 10 PDUs)
While this policy may initially exclude some interested potential providers, they can seek a university linkage or go for IACET certification. Note that ASP is not awarding CEUs, but recognizing CEU’s as among the educational credits applicants would require. ASP’s “credit counting”. ASP will also recognize and reward participation in chapter and national conferences, and possibly ASP sponsored Webinars by providing non-CEU credits as these are learning experiences too.
Each potential REP would have to demonstrate how their curriculum matches up one or more of the defined BOK areas of Lead, Think, Plan, and Act for either the Strategic Planning Professional or Strategic Management Professional Certifications. After paying an initial application fee, they would provide course outlines, a set of materials/handouts, names and qualifications of Lead Instructors, along with testimonials from past participants or organizations they have assisted.
While not mandatory, a team member could sit through a complementary workshop to complete the curriculum/BOK areas matrix.
Additional ASP preference and consideration will be given to those who actively support ASP through sponsorships, volunteering, and other in-kind contributions which benefit the Association. In practical terms, this means that they will be given preferences for ASP Conference speaking slots as well as possible Pre-and Post Workshops in addition to ASP Webinars and local chapter presentations, etc..
Upon qualified as a REP, then the organization will be required to pay for a listing on the ASP website as well as optional additional payments for Monthly ASP Newsletter advertisements generated by ASP. The yearly pricing is set by the REP Qualification Team. Right now it is $1000 per year for one Course/webinar series and $2000 for 2-4 courses /webinar series and $3,000 for 5+ courses/webinar series. 2010 will be a pro-rata amount due to the end of February Kick Off. Payment plans will be allowed and must be approved by the REP Qualification Team too.
Lastly, the REPs will now be qualified to use the ASP REPs LOGO or any and all their materials and stationery. They are expected to market our BOK, ASP Certification Program as well as their own courses/webinar series.
4. ASP Certification Team (Is independent but does report to the ASP Certification Program Operations Team)
The Certification Team grants the two credentials (Plus Strategic Planning Associate Program Designation), has the Certificates signed by the ASP President and Vice President, and maintains integrity of the process. This should be a seven-nine person body (Depending on size of volume of traffic and split into two separate subcommittees for each Level) which selects its own Chair and Vice Chair. At most, half this Body could be from the ASP Board (minimum two Board Members) and the Board would approve the full group. Presuming, say, a nine person board, the term of service could be three years (or less), resulting in turnover of three members every year ( (The terms of the initial appointees would be staggered – 3 persons have one year terms, 3 have two year terms, and 3 have three).
In addition, the ASP Certification Team will have three non-voting Ex-Officio Members; the Vice Chair of the REPs Team, the ASP Certification Program Coordinator above and the ASP Certification Program Operations Team Leader.
They would review and score the written applications. At least two persons should see each application, and the concurrence of both is necessary.
For the Strategic Planning Professional (Level I Certification), a review of the written application should be sufficient. For the Strategic Management Professional (senior Level II Certification), oral interviews may be conducted by phone at the option of the Governance Team (or in person if convenient, such as before or at each national conference). Responsibility for chairing the interview function could rotate to balance the workload.
In the role of process integrity keepers, this group would set policy needed as well as ensure the Fiscal Integrity of the entire ASP Certification Program. Policy guidelines areas would include IP management, conflicts of interest, examination integrity review, pricing, cost approvals, etc. (and other areas as identified by the Team or Board of Directors).
SUMMARY:
There needs to be close and a direct working relationship between the ASP Certification Program Coordinator, the ASP Certification Program Operations Team, the Certification Team, the REP Team and the ASP Executive Director concerning application paperwork flow, finances etc. All logistics-intensive tasks and coordination should be done by the ASP Certification Program Coordinator or the Professional Testing Corporation of NYC. The specifics of who does what will evolve over time starting with the Job Description of the ASP Certification Program Coordinator and the contract with Professional Testing Corporation. Everything should be done electronically for ease of work and record retention.
