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The Institute for the Management of Information Systems (IMIS) |
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About IMIS |
The Institute for the Management of Information Systems exists to promote and support the professional use, application and management of Information Systems. Membership in IMIS enables the IS practitioner to take an active role in supporting the enhancement of his/her profession. The Institute and its work In the 21st Century, competitive advantage will go, not to those who have and use the latest technology, but to those who use and manage it most effectively. Many
institutes and associations exist to provide support for computer technologists.
IMIS was the first and remains the leading Institute for users and managers as
well as technicians of Information Systems. As such they provide an established
forum for constructive dialogue between all of these groups, allowing the
members to set the standards and develop best practice in professional IS
management. IMIS
work is mainly involved with upholding and promoting the Profession of IS
Management. They do this through setting and maintaining rigid standards of
qualification and practice, and representing the profession on the
public/legislative stage across a wide range of issues which impact the way in
which the Members work. IMIS history In the 1960's as Information Technology was emerging on the commercial scene, a number of associations were established to provide support to the rapidly increasing numbers of programmers and analysts. Two of these early associations began to distinguish themselves by developing a focus on issues relating to the management of IT, and standards of IT education. In 1978 these two organisations merged to form the Institute of Data Processing Management (IDPM), which continued their unique focus on practical and educational issues. The examination syllabus was established and the IDPM accreditation became well respected and sought after around the world. In 1998, a review of the Institute's operations in the context of a continually evolving IT environment resulted in, among other things, a change of name to the more modern 'Institute for the Management of Information Systems' (IMIS). Today, IMIS stands out as the leading association for Information Systems Management. Forty percent of the Members come from non-technical backgrounds, enabling IMIS to provide a forum for balanced discussion on IT management issues. Leading edge research, proactive Membership services and respected accreditation programmes make IMIS the Institute of choice for all those involved in the use, application and management of IT. Purpose & objectives Forty years on from its early applications in automation and bookkeeping, Information Technology now plays a vital role in most aspects of our business and personal lives. As a result, IS professionals have levels of access to data, and influence over the commercial success of our enterprises, undreamed of in the 1960's. Other professions enjoying similar levels of access and influence have been subject to rigorous standards of accreditation and professional conduct for many years. The purpose of these standards, accepted and enforced throughout industry, is to protect the professionals themselves from unscrupulous competition, and to protect their employers from commercial risk. The IMIS Vision is: To see Information Systems Management recognised as one of the key professions influencing the future of our society. The purpose is to provide a framework for recognised standards and informed dialogue to support that professionalism. IMIS recognise that they cannot achieve their Vision without a balance of effort on a number of fronts. These form the pillars of IMIS work:
Structure & operations The work of the Institute is directed by a Council of elected Members which meets on a regular basis and is responsible for reviewing and maintaining the professional standards, setting the strategy of the Institute, and directing its various activities. Members of Council are elected for tenure of three years at the Institute's Annual General Meeting. The Memorandum and Articles of Association set out the requirements and regulations by which the Council and its members abide. A copy can be downloaded from the following PDF file: Memorandum and Articles of Association (PDF) The day-to-day administration of the Institute's business, as directed by Council, is carried out by a Secretariat of salaried staff based in Orpington, Kent, UK. In addition to the Council, a number of Committees, comprising members and Secretariat representatives, deal with specific issues and areas of interest. Upholding the profession As the leading professional association for IS professionals, IMIS core activities are concerned with setting and maintaining standards of practice which will provide Members and employers alike with confidence in their integrity and career suitability. IMIS accepts into Membership only those professionals who meet their exacting qualification requirements. These cover expertise and achievements gained in both the academic and the working environment. Membership is divided into six grades, each reflecting a different level of professional qualification and achievement. Members are encouraged to work their way up through the grades during the course of their career. Information Systems management exists at the heart of today's organisations. IS managers have access to financial data, commercially sensitive information, customer information and personal data files. Society needs to know that its IS professionals abide by a code of conduct similar to that which currently governs the professional conduct of accountants and lawyers. IMIS has been at the forefront of developing and enforcing such a code. Agreement to abide by the Code of Conduct is a condition of Membership in IMIS. ---Click here--- to download Code of Conduct for Membership in IMIS. A copy of the Code can be downloaded from this link in PDF format: Code of Professional Conduct (PDF) IMIS also works closely with the Centre for Computing and Social Responsibility at De Montfort University on issues relating to business ethics. For further information on their work please visit their web site: http://www.ccsr.cse.dmu.ac.uk/ IS Careers Information Systems is still one of the newest industries in the world and, partly for this reason, there is no clearly defined job structure. Instead there are a large number of interconnected opportunities for career development, ranging from the most mundane types of work using a word processor, to the most exciting which might involve the design of components used for space travel. In between these extremes there are a very wide variety of jobs demanding knowledge of the various aspects of the computing industry and using skills such as programming or systems analysis. Although computers, the machines, are at the heart of the industry, most jobs within the career structure involve working with people, communicating with them at all levels and sorting out business-related problems. Computing is rarely ever boring and the opportunities that such a career brings are challenging and rewarding; rewarding not only in the sense of being quite well paid, but also in respect of giving a high level of job satisfaction. Some general information on careers in Information Systems can be downloaded from ---here--- General information on careers in Information Systems can be downloaded in the following link in PDF format: Careers in Information Systems (PDF) You may also care to visit the following web sites for additional information: Opportunities for young people: http://www.infoyouth.com Examination services IMIS examination services section contains useful information for non-members and members alike. |
