Certified Outsourcing Specialist – Foundation Principles™ (COS-FP)  

The Certified Outsourcing Specialist - Foundation Principles designation distinguishes individuals as grounded in the basic knowledge and skills in the field of outsourcing. It powerfully demonstrates that they possess exposure to and general knowledge required to design, implement, and manage outsourcing initiatives that have a high probability of achieving an organization’s intended outcomes.

This professional designation, which focuses on the basic processes of outsourcing itself, is equally valuable to individuals working as customers, providers, or advisors. It introduces individuals to an environment where all of the parties to an outsourcing business relationship have a common and shared professional knowledge, approach and commitment to mutual success. 

DOWNLOAD the COS-FP Fact Sheet
DOWNLOAD the COS-FP Standards & Requirements
DOWNLOAD the Sourcing Governance Foundation course and exam Fact Sheet
CLICK HERE to view a COS-FP Directory of Certified Professionals
  
Benefits of Certification

Organizations that work with COS-FPs can expect better, more consistent results specifically because these professionals have demonstrated their knowledge against an independently developed set of industry-wide standards. COS-FPs may command greater professional recognition and compensation than less qualified entry level practitioners.  Studies in other fields have found a 20-plus percentage salary differential for certified professionals and 79 percent of executives recruiters believe that certified professionals are better-qualified candidates.  COS-FP certified professionals will have knowledge and understanding in the following areas: 

• Opportunities, Risks and forms of Outsourcing
• Lifecycle approach to Outsourcing
• Sourcing Srategy
• Scoping
• Selection and Due Diligence
• Contracting
• Transition
• The Demand Supply Governance Framework (DMSG)
  

• Documenting  knowledge by successfully completing a certification qualification course, such as the Sourcing Governance Foundation (SGF) 2-day training
• Passing the COS-FP Examination which is taken at the end of the SGF course.  The exam is comprised of 40 multiple choice questions and a grade of 70% or better is passing

Qualifying Certification Training

The Sourcing Governance Foundation course is a qualifying COS-FP certification training.  The course and qualifying COS-FP certification exam are offered by accredited trainers through APMG-International.


An IAOP Corporate & Professional Development Strategic Alliance Partner
An IAOP ICE Sponsor
To learn about being an accredited trainer for COS-FP, please contact APMG Service Desk at Servicedesk@apmg-international.com, +44 (0) 1494 452 450.

Additionally the Sourcing Governance Foundation course has been mapped to the Outsourcing Professional Standards and accredited with 25 points towards the COP Certification, 15 CEHs towards COP Recertification, and inclusion in the Outsourcing Professional Course Catalog. 

Sourcing Governance Foundation Course & Syllabus

The Sourcing Governance Foundation 2 day course provides a basic knowledge of what the main concepts of Outsourcing and Sourcing Governance are and how they can be applied. Outsourcing IT services has changed the management context for providing the business with the IT services it needs. Operational control is transferred into management of commercial relationships, contracts and coordination of the services from specialized suppliers. Best practice shows that implementing and operating a Sourcing Governance Function will require staff awareness and understanding of the key principles and concepts of outsourcing and sourcing governance. In this course an interactive approach is used combining lecture, discussion and exercises.

The training provides professionals in both the organization requiring Information Services and the organization providing Information Services with a basic understanding of sourcing of Information Services and the governance and management of these Information Services by the Demand Supply Organization. On successful completion of the educational, in-course workbook exercises and examination components related to this certificate, candidates will have acquired and demonstrated knowledge and understanding in the following areas: (Annotated by the relevant Bloom’s level).

• Opportunities, Risks and forms of Outsourcing (Knowing)
• Lifecycle approach to outsourcing (Comprehending)
• The Demand Supply Governance Framework (DSGF)(Knowing, Comprehending)
• Implementing a Demand Supply Organization (Comprehending)

Length of the course: 2 days
Language: English
Material delivered: Both scheduled public course via classroom and Customized/onsite training delivered via Classroom
Course Outline
DAY 1:

• Introduction to Outsourcing and Governance
• Sourcing Strategy
• Scoping the Outsourcing Opportunity
• Selection of Providers and Due Diligence
• Contracting the Services

• Transition
• Sourcing Governance Framework
• Implementing a Demand Supply Organization

Pricing for the COS-FP Qualifying training and exam varies by APMG-International accredited trainer and location.  View the entire Certification Program Elements and Pricing Chart.
 

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