History
For over a decade, ISCM has been involved in complex projects with governments, NGOs and multinational corporations. Throughout its history, ISCM has pushed the boundaries of Scenario Planning and Risk Analysis by integrating systems thinking and system dynamics into an integral methodology and software.
The Institute for Strategy and Complexity Management (ISCM) was established in 2003 by seasoned executives from the financial industry. With support from the South African Absa Barclays bank, the first release of a software application (forerunner of the Impact Analyzer) was developed to measure and reflect on the rationale for business performance and the mindset drivers.
In 2005 the organisation was registered in Singapore as a research-based organisation focused on strategic scenario planning, providing educational and advisory services to executives facing complex challenges. PKF Singapore was appointed auditor.
In the following three years the ISCM conducted numerous Executive Dialogue Sessions and assignments for corporates in the Middle East, such as Emirate Airlines, Arabic United Emirates Government, Qatar Government departments of Water and Electricity, Oman Bank, Dubai Traffic department, etc.
Learnings from the Executive Dialogue Sessions provided valuable input into the development of the ViewPoint Model – a stakeholder-based method for building simulations with its proposition: ‘helping you make decisions’. The methodology helps to reflect on the effects of the driving forces causing different course of events, away from the original plan using behavioural computer simulations. In 2007 ISCM was recognised for its research with the Global Strategic Leadership Excellence Award.
Funding support allowed for the further development of the Impact Analyzer to become a mature tool for strategic scenario planning. The tool became the first collaborative web-based tool for building simulations. In 2007 to 2008 KPMG deployed the method and tooling to asses and validate re-start plans for complex government departments in The Netherlands and in Australia. The independent research Common Wealth task force, International Centre for Complex Project Management (ICCPM), commended the VPM and its Impact Analyzer (method and software) as “Possibly the most sophisticated assessment tool on offer is the Viewpoint Model (VPM) from the Institute for Strategy & Complexity Management (ISCM)” — Michael Cavanah, Project-Complexity-Assessment
In 2012 the ISCM Foundation, hosted by the Seychelles government, was established to support the mission of Africa Forum to create a platform for African entrepreneurs in 55 countries:
- Executive Programme Office – planning, governing and monitoring investment projects
- Education – practice / project directed education
- Simulation Centre – assessing, validating and confirming planning and execution
Due to ISCM’s sensitive work, ISCM is held by Governments and Businesses to strictest confidentiality.
With regards to Wikipedia related information, we maintain the ViewPoint Model for public educational use conform to ethical and professional standards ISCM Foundation – COI – 25092018. In addition, ISCM provides confirmation by:
- KPMG Verifiability Letter for Government assignments (first public use of the ViewPoint Model and related Impact Analyzer in 2007) and the peak body of the
- International Centre Complex Project Management (www.ICCPM.com) that in 2012 the deployment of the ViewPoint Model and related Impact Analyzer at the Australian Defence Force ICCPM Verifiability Letter has taken place.
- Independent scoring of the Defense Force Innovation Hub, May 2018
The ISCM is the Think Tank of ISCM Foundation and supports projects in Africa and beyond, controlled by an integrity platform of independent, highly respected audit, legal and compliance professionals. Project and Funding Governance is subjected to public scrutiny.
