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May 2009

Over the last few weeks the CIPSA team have been reflecting upon the latest membership survey results from the research conducted in late 2008.

This survey was compiled again by Beaton Consulting on a pro-bono basis as part of the BRW Client Choice Awards programme. It is the third year in which CIPSA has participated in this programme along with 47 other associations and professional bodies – of which 17 participate in a direct benchmarking comparison of performance and support amongst their members. The answers to the element of the survey on the performance professional services firms also determine the winners of the BRW Client Choice Awards.

Results for CIPSA over the last three years [to the same consistent questions] have improved gradually – from the surprisingly high ratings scored in the first survey way back in 2006.

Reassuringly, 73% of members rate CIPSA’s overall performance as GOOD or EXCELLENT. Pleasingly, CIPSA’s relative overall performance against other, similar institutes and associations has also improved to 11th overall out of the 17 core associations that participate [30 choose not to]. Most of these other associations have been established for decades and include organisations such as The Law Society, CPA and Engineers Australia. It is an excellent outcome given the stature of these other associations. CIPSA members clearly value their professional body.

Demographically, a steadily increasing 27% of CIPSA members are female and the average age of members is reducing as more and more young people are entering the profession.

Other notable headlines within the research were;

• 75% both feel a sense of belonging to a professional community .......
• .....and are also satisfied CIPSA is building the professional standing of its members
• 87% members will probably or definitely renew for next year;
• 41% aspire to full membership [MCIPS] of CIPS and hope/intend to take exams in future
• CIPSA rated 7th most necessary membership out of 17 bodies benchmarked [as above]
• 56% members feel CIPSA has established a good reputation within business community
• 59% are reimbursed by their employer for membership
• Broad endorsement for CIPS efforts, publications, benefits, communications & attributes

These research findings perhaps explain why CIPSA has now set a membership record every month for the last twelve months,up to a peak of 3,054 members during April 2009.

A range of new member benefits were launched for CIPSA members in early 2009 including;

• A relaunched Procurement Professional magazine,
• An online version with new features such as daily news updates/the e-book feature/The Buyers Blog.
• New local tender/contract templates have been published online
• Fortnightly UK magazine Supply Management editors highlights emailed to members’ inbox fortnightly
• The range of professional resources is also expanding with almost 30 local white-papers on the CIPSA site, all The Knowledge Clubs, the best research papers and the links for the TOP 20 useful websites for procurement professionals

Most importantly though, CIPSA membership allows busy procurement professional to stay in touch. A way to keep close to trends and issues within the profession, to understand quickly how others are coping with similar challenges and to cherry-pick the best of all the CIPSA events we offer which, during 2009, will total approximately ....

• 7 major conferences
• 42 regional branch events
• 72 public open training courses
• 4 open Assisted Study Programmes [ASPs] towards MCIPS
• 5 CPO Agenda Masterclasses

Of course, members will also receive all the publications we produce free of charge including PP magazine, PPonline, The Knowledge Clubs, CIPSA white-papers, special research papers and The Buyers Blog.

Our focus in 2009 is the further development of pathways to study towards CIPS qualifications. In recent months, CIPSA have;

• Accredited more university courses – now seven universities and 18 courses available to achieve MCIPS
• Launched CIPS e online learning – self study by the unit from as little as AU $341 incl GST.
• Added five more exam centres & developed local assessment capability
• Launched the Professional Assessment Scheme [PAS] experiential route to full membership

All in all, I believe CIPSA membership offers real value – so much so that 59% of members are fully reimbursed by their employers. But, ultimately, there is no reason that 100% of members could be reimbursed by their employer. Thankfully, CIPSA members seem to agree; hopefully these sentiments will translate to renewal of memberships over the next few months.

Thank you for your ongoing support of the Institute.

Jonathan Dutton FCIPS
Managing Director
CIPS Australasia

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Driving excellence in procurement and supply management

CIPS Australia Level 10, 520 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Tel: 1300 765 142 Fax: 1300 765 143 Email: info@cipsa.com.au Web: www.cipsa.com.au