Consultancy Management Standard
A respected benchmark
By making the CMS audit a requirement of membership, PRCA Ireland is helping to ensure that our members continue to be the best PR consultancies in Ireland, and among the top worldwide.
Your consultancy is independently assessed on ten elements including training, client satisfaction, service delivery, campaign evaluation, business management and adherence to the PRCA Code of Conduct. Re-assessment takes place every two years to ensure that the high standards demanded by the CMS are maintained.
The assessment process
When you are confident of passing the stringent CMS criteria you invite the independent assessor, KSi Faulkner Orr, to review your consultancy. You might find it helpful to establish a relationship with the assessor in advance of the formal assessment, to gain advice and guidance and to ensure you are fully prepared.
The steps you should take in preparing for assessment, and the marks awarded for each area, are outlined in the Consultancy Management Standard Preparatory Self-Assessment Questionnaire, which you can download here (MSWord .doc file - 75k).
If you have difficulty downloading the questionnaire, or would like a copy posted to you instead, please contact the PRCA by telephone on (01) 661 8004 or e-mail info@prca.ie.
Preparing for Assessment
1. The PRCA recommends that members and potential members work through the Preparatory Self-Assessment Questionnaire and score your consultancy's compliance with the ten steps outlined.
2. If you think your organisation is likely to achieve the 75% pass level, then the next step is to contact PRCA Ireland's nominated certification body, KSi Faulkner Orr, at KSi House, 10 Whitefriars, Aungier Street, Dublin 2, Tel: (01) 418 9970. Please note that a fee for the certification assessment will be due to KSi Faulkner Orr.
3. After the assessment takes place, KSi Faulkner Orr will indicate whether your organisation has passed the Standard or not. You will then be advised of any areas of non-compliance, which will need correction.
4. After notification of the outcome, the PRCA will prepare a certificate and members who pass the Standard will be able to include a logo on stationery and promotional material.
If you have questions regarding how to proceed at any time, please contact the PRCA by telephone on (01) 661 8004 or e-mail info@prca.ie.