The GSQI Governance

The GSQI Governance Structure is founded on the paradigm of “Accountability to Markets, Industry and Stakeholders through Ethical Practice of Credentialing.” There is a defining set of 9 different policies and guidelines that drive governance in GSQI.

The tenets of Accountability, Industry-connect and Ethical Credentialing Practice are enshrined in the architecture of the GSQI Governance Structure, which has an integrated group of Boards and Councils responsible for ensuring that all GSQI products and services are always designed and delivered on the basis of the needs and the voices of the players, markets and stakeholders of the global business process outsourcing industry and its components.

The latest GSQI Governance System is composed of three key elements – the sacrosanct GSQI Charter 2012, which defines the GSQI constitution; the Boards, Councils, Committees and Groups and the body of Policies and Guidelines. In our governance framework, there are 5 apex boards, served by several global and zonal councils and committees.

Established at the inception of GSQI as a certification organization, our Governing Council is charged to facilitate more rapid empowerment of various GSQI global committees and councils under the other boards and to collaborate optimally with other CredForce member organizations. The four component committees of the Governing Council are the Advocacy Management Committee; the Global Partnering Management Committee; Credentialing Management Committee and the Knowledge Management Committee. The GSQI Governing Council is responsible for the overall management of GSQI as a credentialing enterprise worldwide. Four different committees with five eminent professionals and experts as members in each of them, share mission-critical responsibilities of managing credentialing, knowledge development, international advocacy and global partner network of GSQI. An independent GSQI Nomination Management Committee (NMC) established by the Governing Council is mandated to nominate members for all GSQI boards, councils and committees and the four committees of the Governing Council are also nominated by the NMC. Two Nominated Members in each of the four committees are rotated every year. The other three nominees are representatives from the industry with a fixed tenure of two years. Further, from 2014, each of these committees will be required to have at least one GSQI Certified Professional with designation of Leader or above and at least two members are eminent ex-CXOs from various industries. The Governing Council meets every quarter to discuss issues on governance, operations, programs and stakeholders interests.

The GSQI Global Advisory Council (GAC) has the most critical mandate and responsibility toward contributing to propagation of credentialing consciousness across the global IT, software and computer science industry. The GAC essentially helps the Governing Council in the development of credentialing mechanisms and certification products and in defining the validation systems for GSQI certifications and standards for professionals and enterprises in the IT, software and computer science space. Structurally, the GAC is composed of two large committees – the Advisory Committee on Professional Certifications, and the Advisory Committee on Enterprise Certifications. The committees are provisioned to have 15 eminent professionals and experts as members in each of them, responsible for advising the GSQI Governing Council on mission-critical responsibilities of managing credentialing, knowledge development, international advocacy and the global partner network of GSQI. An independent GSQI Nomination Management Committee (NMC) established by the Governing Council is mandated to nominate members for the Advisory Council. At least 8 nominees in the GAC from 2014 are required to be eminent ex-CXOs various industries with a fixed tenure of two years, whereas 4 members are experts in education, training and learning & development. The other three members are experts in quality management and process design. Further, from 2014, each of these committees will have at least five members with GSQI credentials of a Leader. At any given time, the GAC has at least 6 members from the Zonal Advisory Councils (ZACs) – 1 from each of the 6 ZACs for the five GSQI‌ Strategic Global Zones.

The GSQI Charter of 2012 also created 6 Strategic Global Regions for GSQI – Z1-Asia Pacific rim & China; Z2-South Asia & Europe; Z3-North Africa & West Asia (Middle East); Z4-The Americas; Z5-South African Development Council; and Z6-East & West Africa. Each of these zones have their own Zonal Advisory Councils (ZACs). These ZACs were formed in the GSQI Charter to strengthen Zonal voices and representations in the GSQI think-tank. The ZAC essentially help in the development of a body of well-researched and consensual opinions on matters related to the requirements of credentialing mechanisms and certification products in their respective Zones and in helping the Governing Council in the validation and propagation of standards in member countries. Each ZAC is composed of two large committees – the Zonal Advisory Committee on Professional Certifications, and the Zonal Advisory Committee on Enterprise Certifications. Each of these committees have 15 eminent professionals and experts as members, responsible for advising the GSQI Governing Council on credentialing, knowledge development, international advocacy and partnering strategy in their zone.

The GSQI Nomination Management Committee (NMC) established by the Governing Council is mandated to nominate members for all the Zonal Advisory Councils. At least 8 nominees in the ZAC are eminent ex-CXOs from IT/BPO/ICT/RETAIL/BANKING or related industries in that zone with a fixed tenure of two years, whereas 4 members are experts in education, training and learning & development in the Zone. The other three members are experts in quality management and process design. Like in other committees, from 2014, each of these committees will also be required to have at least five members with GSQI credentials of Functional Leader or above. At any given time, a ZAC cannot have more than 2 members from any one country in that Zone, unless otherwise approved by the NMC.

The GPCB has been established under the GSQI Charter of 2012 and is charged for validations of professional competence standards and conducting examinations for all GSQI professional certification programs conducted globally through two Councils – the GSQI Council for Examinations (GCE) and the GSQI Certification Frameworks Council (GCFC). While the GCE handles examinations, the GCFC looks after validations, revisions and accreditation of the GSQI certification framework. The GPCB also has 6 Zonal chapters called Professional Certification Management Committees PCMC) – one for each of the 6 GSQI Strategic Zones. All GSQI certification programs are approved by the Programs Validation Committee (PVC), while the Credentialing award decisions are taken by the Credential Award Committee (CAC).

The Credentialing Shared Services Group of CredForce™ manages the delivery of examinations across zones in tandem with the respective Zonal PCMCs and the Examinations Council. CredForce™ also coordinates with various bodies and organizations to help the Professional Standards Council in standards validations, revisions and accreditation. The core group of GPCB is composed of 6 expert members tenured for 2 years. The two GPCB councils have 6 members each with expertise in their respective professional areas. These Councils are also refreshed every two years.

The GSQI Nomination Management Committee (NMC) established by the Executive Board is mandated to nominate members for all the GPCB councils and committees. The GPCB house includes a mix of eminent ex-CXOs from IT or related industries as well as experts in assessments, testing and quality management.

GSQI’s enterprise-level certifications – the GSQ 21/14/10 are administered and managed globally by the GSQI Enterprise Standards Board (GECB). The GECB is charged for validations of the GSQ standards GSQI SQS2100 and for controlling the mechanisms for Audits and credentialing. The invigorated GECB works through two apex councils, 8 core committees and six zonal committees.

The Service Quality Audit Control Council (SQAC) helps the GECB Core Group control global exercises on standards validation and revision and implementation of GSQS in BPO enterprises worldwide. The GECB also has 6 Zonal chapters called Enterprise Standards Management Committees (ESMCs) – one for each of the 6 GSQI Strategic Zones. Each of the two councils are composed of four committees – the Standards Accreditation Committee; the Systems Validation Committee; the Audit Control Committee and the Credential Award Committee.

The Credentialing Shared Services Group of CredForce™ manages the conduct of Audits and standards implementations across zones in tandem with the respective Zonal ESMCs and the SQAC. CredForce™ also coordinates with various bodies and organizations to help the two councils in standards validations, revisions and accreditation. The core group of GECB is composed of 6 expert members tenured for 2 years. The two GECB quality councils have 6 members each with expertise in their respective professional areas of Service Delivery and Talent Management. These Councils are relected every two years.

The GSQI Nomination Management Committee (NMC) established by the Executive Board is mandated to nominate members for all the GECB councils and committees. The GECB is represented by eminent ex-CXOs from various industries as well as experts in audits, service excellence and quality management.

The GSQI Ethics Control Board (ECB) is responsible for defining and coding the ethical framework of GSQI – the GSQI Code of Ethics - and also for guiding, planning and controlling the implementation and practice of the GSQI Code of Ethics across partners, associates and employees worldwide. The ECB mandate was substantially increased under the revised GSQI Charter of 2007 to introduce more rigor in the practice of credentialing and to also expand the role of ethics in decisions related to the award of certifications. In addition to the Council of Ombudsmen, the ECB operates through two core councils – the Code of Ethics Council (CEC) and the Appellate Council. The ECB also has 6 Zonal chapters called Zonal Ethics Committees (ZECs) – one for each of the 6 GSQI Strategic Zones.