I am grateful to Edward Dudley for reminding me about the existing Code
of Professional Conduct, which I eventually found on the LA site
http://www.la-hq.org.uk/directory/about/conduct.html .  The CILIP site
http://www.cilip.org.uk/about/code.html  refers to it but does not link
to the old site.

I would certainly agree that the Code of Conduct does implicitly cover
many aspects of consultancy, but not explicitly.

Some years ago now, in the mid 1980's, John Gurnsey and I developed a
code of practice for consultants on behalf of the IIS, during the
writing of our book Information Consultancy, which was published by LA
Publishing.

There are many issues around what is "good practice" in consultancy, as
a review of the Institute of Management Consultancy Code of Conduct (
http://www.imc.co.uk/index3.html) will inidicate.

I would suggest that such a Code of Consulting Conduct could then be
cited within the (revised) CILIP Code of Professional Conduct so that
there was no need for additional mechanisms to govern the adherence to
such a Code.



Martin White
Managing Director
Intranet Focus Ltd
12 Allcard Close, Horsham, RH12 5AJ
Tel. +44 (0) 1403 267030
http://www.intranetfocus.com
http://www.intranetfocus.com/blog




-----Original Message-----
From: LIS-CILIP [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Edward
Dudley
Sent: 10 September 2002 11:51
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: CILIP Consultancy Service & Code of conduct

Martin White (9 Sept) responding to Tony McSean refers to a 'mutually
agreed set of standards of practice [for consultants] developed by
CILIP'.
There is, in fact, a CILIP Code of Professional Conduct (on CILIP
website)
which all members are expected to follow; there are disciplinary
procedures which led to an LA member being expelled a few years back.
Sheila Thomas (16 Aug and former IIS member) on reading the Code for the
first time thought it 'needs re-writing and away from a library-centric
point of view'. Earlier Charles Oppenheim reported that it was being
looked at. CILIP Corporate Plan says that by March 2003 CILIP 'will
agree
a Code of Conduct and a Code of Professional Practice in order to
articulate the ethics and values of CILIP'.  Articulating the different
meaning and significance of Conduct, Practice, Ethics and Values and
their
relationships in one document which will have the backing of CILIP
Bye-laws and be understood and followed by members is a task requiring,
I
think, the services of some appropriately skilled philosopher; name the
brand, someone, please.
More to the point, why has there been virtually no discussion on this
topic by CILIP members, particularly those from IIS and all
self-employed
members?  Are we to repeat professional history: the present Code was
adopted at LA AGM in 1983 nem con and without any discussion?
Somebody say something please.
Edward Dudley
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----
From: LIS-CILIP [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Tony
McSean
Sent: 09 September 2002 09:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: CILIP Consultancy Service

A couple of points - my response set out my own personal view on the
matter.  After the merger, I did not seek re-election as chair of the
enterprise board and now serve on a committee more germane to my new
role
as Health Libraries Group rep on Cilip council.

The other point I would like to emphasise is this business of Cilip
subsidising its consultancy service.  I would ask the same question I
posed
when the British Library made noises about the BMA subsidising its
photocopy service (we are a lot cheaper):  Why?  Why on earth would
Cilip
want to do this?  Poor Janet Liebster and her Ents crew are busy enough
with stuff that makes money - why go looking for loss-makers?

Tony McSean




                      Martin White
                      <martin.white@INTRANE        To:
[log in to unmask]
                      TFOCUS.COM>                  cc:
                      Sent by: LIS-CILIP           Subject:  Re: CILIP
Consultancy Service
                      <[log in to unmask]
                      C.UK>


                      07/09/02 12:26
                      Please respond to
                      LIS-CILIP






Tony McSean's response sets out the CILIP viewpoint on the new
consultancy service. I would like to offer some views as an independent
consultant.

In my view I can see nothing wrong with the establishment of the new
service. Aslib set up a consulting service quite early in its history,
(the Aslib Research Department) and many distinguished members of the
profession gained much from the experience of working there, as did the
profession from the results of the work undertaken. I cannot recall any
significant concerns from the membership about the work of the
department.

I can see many merits from the new service. Given the number of members
of CILIP who are consultants the service will enable CILIP to understand
the issues and opportunities in this area and respond appropriately, for
example with regard to training requirements and publishing. There might
also be scope to develop a register of consultants who would operate to
mutually agreed standards of practice developed by CILIP. I could also
envisage the CILIP consulting service acting in a "project management"
role in bringing together a group of consultants to work on projects
that are too large or cash-flow negative (e.g. European Commission
projects!) for individual consultants to undertake.

The only potential danger would be if CILIP undercut other consultants
through subsidizing the service. Given the transparency of the accounts
this is unlikely, and in any case would only happen once!  However I
have great respect for David Haynes, who has direct experience of
running his own practice for many years. In conversation with him
recently I know that he is well aware of the issues associated with the
consulting service, and will be working closely with members of CILIP
who are acting as consultants to ensure that win-win relationships are
developed.

I would therefore encourage any CILIP member involved full-time or
part-time in consulting work to make contact with David at the earliest
opportunity.

Martin White
Managing Director
Intranet Focus Ltd
12 Allcard Close, Horsham, RH12 5AJ
Tel. +44 (0) 1403 267030
http://www.intranetfocus.com
http://www.intranetfocus.com/blog




-----Original Message-----
From: LIS-CILIP [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Leonard
Will
Sent: 04 September 2002 18:26
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: CILIP Consultancy Service

I was interested to learn that CILIP has recently set up a consultancy
service. The draft Corporate Plan says that this will "further the
knowledge of CILIP members and the wider library and information
community" and will not only set standards for excellence but also
generate a surplus from 2003 onwards.

I have no question with the quality of the service that will be
provided, and I was pleased to see David Haynes' excellent article in
the August issue of "Library + Information Update" which should help
potential clients to understand what consultancy is all about.

I wonder, though, whether it is appropriate for a professional body to
develop services in direct competition with many of its members. There
are many professional consultants already in this field; I have talked
to some others and they reasonably agree that the playing field is not
level if a new service is set up with the name and status of our leading
professional body behind it.

As the new service is intended to make a profit for the Institute, I
presume that it will be treated as a trading organisation similar to
Facet Publishing, with its own accounts, including full charging for
accommodation, overheads, advertising and services that it receives in
the headquarters building, and I assume that these accounts will be
available to members.

Perhaps it is intended that existing consultant members of the Institute
should be associated with the service in some way - this is a
possibility which it would be interesting to hear about, but I suspect
that the level of enthusiasm will depend on whether consultants will
lose out by having to pay commission or introduction fees or whether on
the other hand they will share in some of the profits of the enterprise,
if any.

Will some consultancy services be provided free or at a reduced rate to
CILIP members, in furtherance of the first objective in the initial
paragraph above?

Leonard Will
MCLIP
--
Willpower Information       (Partners: Dr Leonard D Will, Sheena E Will)
Information Management Consultants              Tel: +44 (0)20 8372 0092
27 Calshot Way, Enfield, Middlesex EN2 7BQ, UK. Fax: +44 (0)870 051 7276
[log in to unmask]               [log in to unmask]
---------------- <URL:http://www.willpowerinfo.co.uk/> -----------------

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