ISM takes a lead in managing Big Data for the supply chain field

There's a massive data collection and analysis initiative underway at ISM, one that will likely impact how you do your job in the future and effect the entire supply management profession. Formally known as a Job Task Analysis (JTA), the study is a comprehensive, rigorous, quantitative assessment of how we do what we do every day in supply management.

What do I mean by “massive data collection?” How about 721,673 data fields collected from more than 2,600 practitioners in more than 50 countries?

Ultimately, the JTA will result in entirely new exam specifications for ISM's two signature credentials: Certified Professional in Supply Management® (CPSM®) and Certified Professional in Supplier Diversity® (CPSD®). But more broadly, the data will teach us how our profession has evolved and transformed over the years, and will represent the most comprehensive, authoritative, and global expression of the field known as supply management.

There are other programs that claim to offer “certification” in our field, but they are not certifications built on the scientific foundation, in keeping with standards that apply to professional certifying bodies, that ISM uses in its program, including psychometrically validating every single question on the exam. Some so-called certifications are merely certificate programs – often nothing more than a certificate of attendance. Other programs waive examination requirements for certain groups of individuals. Some programs are based on an academic or theoretical understanding of the field.

What sets the CPSM and CPSD certifications apart is this: they are grounded in rigorous, quantitative analysis of the field, testing for mastery of knowledge, skills and abilities actually used by practitioners, and every professional with an ISM credential has passed the necessary exams required to earn the credential. Furthermore, the CPSM is the only credential requiring continuing professional education (60 credits every three years). ISM is also the only organization that offers both preparation and testing in English, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Korean, Japanese and Hebrew.Furthermore, ISM has been certifying competency in our field for more than 40 years, decades longer than any other similar organization.

So when it comes to professional certification, an ancient Latin expression applies: Caveat emptor – “Let the buyer beware.”

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