The IT Industry Leader entry route is directed specifically for senior IT professionals who hold a non-IT university degree, but possess the required experience to practice in the field. Individuals who are interested in this entry route must have a level of professional competence above the minimum requirements and hold a senior executive level position in a large firm. Applicants who have an IT relevant college or university education should apply under the Education Plus Experience route.
The IT Industry Leader review and assessment methodology is based on a defined career path and is based on the single standard, the CIPS Body of Knowledge (BOK) to which all entry routes must adhere and be validated against.
The Information Technology (IT) Industry Leader application route is available to professionals who:
- already have an established career in IT (generally not less than 12 years);
- are responsible for IT strategies, resources, and operations at the organizational level; and
- are sponsored by existing I.S.P. holders, who are able to vouch for their professional competence and integrity.
Overall Education and Experience Criteria
The I.S.P. applicant must:
- hold a senior executive position (e.g. Chief Information Officer - CIO, Chief Technology Officer - CTO), or similar in a large firm. The complexity and size of the organization will be taken into account; or
- have an undergraduate or advanced degree (non IT related); or
- hold a professional designation in a discipline that relates to their responsibilities. Professional designations must be granted under legislation enacted by a jurisdiction that has power over the regulation of professions and professional bodies (i.e. the I.S.P. designation is granted under legislation enacted by provincial governments that are empowered through the Constitution Act, 1867).
Experience Criteria
The I.S.P. applicant must have proven management achievement over a period of not less than four (4) years in:
- a senior management position such as Chief Information Officer (CIO), General Manager (GM), CEO or CTO; or
- other senior IT manager/director position who delegates authority to several IT professionals or managers each of whom hold positions of work that would normally require professional IT qualifications.
An important factor in assessing a job position against this experience criteria is whether or not the person delegates authority to other IT professionals or managers who themselves are responsible for planning, organization, decision-making, staffing and control of the IT activities of the organization. The complexity and size of the position, as well as the complexity and size of the organization, are taken into account.
Essential characteristics of individuals in these positions:
- defined responsibility and authority for decision-making or an advisory function by having a direct bearing on the IT work of an undertaking or major function. In carrying out these responsibilities, recognizes and ensures that all appropriate actions are taken with respect to any safety-related applications within scope. It is expected that the cost of error in making decisions or giving advice would have a serious detrimental affect on the profitability or operating efficiency of the undertaking or function;
- a technical background of sufficient depth and width to be able to recognize and successfully exploit opportunities for effective development or usage of IT, and lead and guide fully experienced technical specialists and/or reporting managers;
- demonstrated high level of presentational skills applicable to all audiences; and
- plays a major part in formulating it strategy and policy across employer's undertaking or significant organizational unit.
Management and Financial Responsibilities Criteria
The I.S.P. applicant must be able to demonstrate responsibilities in the following areas:
- Advise the corporate executive, Board of Directors, finance and audit committees on IT objectives, policies and alternatives;
- Lead the planning and formulation of IT organizational strategy and own the IT strategy document;
- Lead the planning and setting of corporate direction and integration of IT;
- Lead the setting and management of corporate IT objectives, financial plans and budgets;
- Lead the planning, setting, managing of IT organizational and staffing strategies;
- Lead the planning and setting of IT organizational policies, standards etc.;
- Lead the setting and management of corporate IT compliance activities (e.g. legislative, regulatory, etc.);
- Negotiate major initiatives such as strategic partnerships, outsourcing, etc., on behalf of the organization;
- Lead the planning and implementation of Business Continuity Planning (BCP) and Disaster Recovery Planning (DRP) for the organization;
- Review and approve major IT contracts and projects; and
- Manage and direct personnel, finance and administrative services.
Knowledge or Awareness Criteria
The I.S.P. applicant must be able to demonstrate knowledge or awareness in the following areas:
- Knowledge or awareness of IT architecture;
- Knowledge or awareness of the nature of methodologies and bodies of knowledge;
- Knowledge or awareness of specific SDLC methodologies (e.g. MSF, Unified Process;
- Knowledge or awareness of process certification relevant to IT;
- Knowledge or awareness of professional designations relevant to IT;
- Knowledge or awareness of vendor and general designations relevant to IT :
- Knowledge or awareness of the application of best practices in IT management;
- Knowledge or awareness of quality management as it relates to IT;
- Knowledge or awareness of risk management as it relates to IT;
- Knowledge or awareness of security management as it relates to IT; and
- Knowledge or awareness of compliance, evaluation and control mechanisms as they relate to IT management.
