SOSTAC global certified planner program to commence this week

The SOSTAC Global Certified Planner Program offered by PR Smith will commence on 1 July in partnership with Wijeya Newspapers Ltd. while Daily FT, Daily Mirror and the Sunday Times will be the official print/digital media affiliates for the program.

SOSTAC is a globally-recognised planning framework that is trusted by professionals and organisations around the world and is now geared towards being accessible to anyone from diverse professional 

backgrounds.

Following are excerpts from an interview with best-selling business author and creator of the SOSTAC Planning System Paul Smith:

PR Smith

Q: What were the reasons that contributed to PR Smith launching a SOSTAC global certification program?

A: SOSTAC as a globally acclaimed and widely used planning framework by organisations and professionals has reached a stage of maturity that it needs to be accessible and attainable by anyone who wishes to be competent in his or her knowledge in planning and implementation skills.

I received numerous requests from people of diverse professions based in different parts of the world to enable one achieve a certification which will add value to one’s personal and professional growth. In other words the objective is of the SOSTAC global certification program is to empower the individual and the individual will add value to any organisation, whether it is a family business or a large multinational where he is employed. At a macro level, our vision is to instil the skill set and knowledge in communities and countries that would ensure people use better judgement and prudence when planning anything in life. This in no way means that this is going to be the panacea of all ills that the world is faced with today but at least it gives some form of method to the madness and minimises the risks that many ignore.

I need to say this, reluctantly though, that I have also received complaints from unsuspecting individuals who have been duped by so-called trainers who, under the guise of delivering SOSTAC training, charge high fees and deliver little or no value to the delegates who attend these sessions. This certification program avoids such unethical practices. Any trainer who wishes to be a SOSTAC trainer has to be accredited by SOSTAC Global Certifications UK and we will ensure the delegates receive a certificate directly from SOSTAC UK.

Q: Could a brief explanation be given as to what the program entails?

A: It is a quality certification accredited as a CPD (Continuous Professional Development) program by CPD international but it does not put undue pressure on the delegates. There are two levels, the SOSTAC Associate level for the 18+ junior executive and the SOSTAC Certified Planner level for the seniors above 22 years with work experience. 

The online MCQ test is open for four days every quarter and upon registration the delegates receive the SOSTAC manual which they can go through prior to the test. The SOSTAC planner level test delegates will receive a short case study in addition to the manual based on which the test will be set. The unique feature we have offered as an encouragement is to offer one free re-sit in the unlikely event of a delegate not receiving the required pass mark of 60%. The re-sit will have to be taken within 48 hours after the first attempt.

Q: The program will be launched on 1 July with affiliates in countries such as UK, Ireland, Cyprus, South Africa, and USA (California). Sri Lanka has the honour of being selected as one of the countries to launch this certification. What do we owe this honour to?

A: I visited Sri Lanka in March 2015 to host a SOSTAC planning workshop. It was a short stay but I fell in love with the beauty and tranquillity of this splendid island with tremendous potential. I made a quick visit to Galle and was amazed how, within the Galle Fort, people of different faiths and ethnic groups lived in harmony. I met several leading corporate personalities and understood that Sri Lanka needed a sense of direction in the key sectors. 

It is quite natural for a country having come out of a 30 year old internal crisis to get carried away and spend without a plan or purpose. The tourism industry is the best example. The diversity of the product Sri Lanka can offer cannot be matched by many countries in the region. But the single issue that needs to be addressed is the marketing of the brand ‘Sri Lanka’ and each of the sub products that constitute the different locations in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is definitely my choice to launch a program such as this as the country can benefit through the learning.

Q: How could this program be accessible to the wider sections of Sri Lanka?

A: We received several candidates who were keen to be the exclusive affiliate of this certification program in Sri Lanka. The Wijeya media group possessed the best credentials and competencies to partner us in delivering the program throughout the country. With the support of local professionals we plan to translate the program content to Sinhalese, which I must say involves a substantial amount of work and planning, but we will do it. The SMEs in Sri Lanka need to take their game to the next level and I am aware the owners of these SMEs are self made entrepreneurs. This program would not only help them hone their business planning skills but also connect them with overseas SMEs and corporate personalities who will be on this SOSTAC global forum.

Q: What visible benefits do you envisage Sri Lanka to gain through this program?

A: The individual will be better planned and that makes him better prepared and proactive. The individual’s competencies transcend to the environment he lives in and works in. The resource utilisation will improve and this will have a direct impact on the returns both financial and non-financial. Change cannot happen by resorting to ad hoc day to day fire fighting. It requires consistent and cohesive planning and plans that can be adapted to the changes in the world. 

Q: What plans do you have to contribute towards Sri Lanka’s development process in any specific sectors?

A: We are in the process of forming a consortium of specialists who could help Sri Lanka take the country’s branding to the next level in Europe, the main premium tourist market. The partners of the consortium are experienced in destination branding and marketing. We plan to present our credentials to the President and Prime Minister who can then decide in giving us the opportunity to work with the Tourist Board of Sri Lanka. We see Sri Lanka’s tourism potential as nothing short of four million arrivals per year which is more than double the number currently the brand is attracting. Let’s see how it goes.

Q: Any plans of visiting Sri Lanka in the near future?

A: Yes, of course. I am impatient to return to your lovely country once we finalise the plans for SOSTAC and also have the consortium for tourism ready.

SOSTAC success stories

“The SOSTAC Certified Planner test gave me the exposure and knowledge which without a shred of doubt has added tremendous value to me personally and professionally. SOSTAC is an easy to dissect, user friendly planning model that could be applied across any profession or industry. The SOSTAC Certification will assist me not only to formulate plans but also to evaluate the plans prepared by others to assess the prudence and practicality under which they have formulated such plans.  I am honoured to be invited by Paul to be part of the pre launch pilot group who went through the Certified Planner test” – Singer Sri Lanka Senior Manager Revenue and Margins Nishan Ranasinghe (SOSTAC Certified Planner)

“Having joined Airbus Middle East in 2008 having commenced my career at Sri Lankan Airlines, I have enjoyed the challenging yet invaluable learning gained at Airbus. In the aircraft industry planning is part of the daily work routine. The lack of planning is what I see as being the main issue facing countries, companies and individuals. The SOSTAC Certification program not only gives the skills and knowledge to formulating effective plans it also helps inculcate planning part of one’s DNA. I am grateful for SOSTAC Global Certifications UK and its Chairman PR Smith for inviting me to be part of the pilot group of Certified Planners and make this certification program accessible to thousands of individuals in varied industries and professions” – Airbus Middle East, Amara Silva (SOSTAC Certified Planner)

“The SOSTAC Associate program was a unique experience that provided me with the necessary skills to draw up an effective business plan. I am certain that this certification program will benefit all individuals irrespective of their business profession to obtain a holistic view of planning. I am thankful to PR Smith for affording the opportunity for a group from Sri Lanka to be part of the pilot group” – Chaturi Liyanage (SOSTAC Associate)

“The test was comprehensive yet attainable, as it enhanced my knowledge of all elements of the SOSTAC model. Having a practical understanding of the elements of the SOSTAC model and how it can be applied in any context has certainly given me the confidence to formulate a plan for any situation. When the results were announced I was thrilled to know that I had scored 100%, the only delegate in the pilot group to do so. I am humbled by this achievement and grateful to PR Smith and SOSTAC UK for affording me the opportunity to be part of this pilot group. I am sure thousands would benefit from this certification program” – WSO2 Marketing Officer Bilal Azeez (SOSTAC Associate)

“Designing and planning this program commenced around July 2015. Working with Paul and his team in UK, Earl Bumotad the site and system designer and the administrator of the program was an invaluable learning experience. The launch of this global certification was possible due to the commitment of all team members and the non existence of personal egos, which needless to state, is the cause of many issues in corporate and personal lives. I am confident that SOSTAC Certifications can be made available to all sections of Sri Lanka by making it available in Sinhalese and Tamil, which would be a first in Sri Lanka” – Director SOSTAC Global Certifications UK Michael Ranasinghe