Institution of Analysts and Programmers
Encyclopedia
The Institution of Analysts and Programmers (IAP) of the United Kingdom
is an institution for information technologists, based in London
. It is one of the UK's leading professional organisations for people working on business systems and computer software
.
enthusiasts that met at Cambridge University, England
. The organization was founded by Robert Charles, who was also the first general secretary. The current name was adopted in 1981.
Since 1993, the Institution of Analysts and Programmers has been a Company Limited by Guarantee
owned by its members. The Institution is governed by a Council of 15, elected from the body of the membership, and is bound by a written constitution
.
The membership includes business analyst
s, computer systems analysts and programmer
s, as well as specialists in IT project management
. A growing number are from a business analysis background including architects and strategists developing software system
s.
sets out the aims and objectives. These are to:
FIAP - Fellow of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
MIAP - Member of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
AMIAP - Associate Member of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
GradIAP - Graduate Member of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
LIAP - Licentiate of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
Robert Charles (General Secretary) [1981-1990]
Mike Ryan (Director General) [1990-2010]
Alastair Revell (Director General) [2010 Onwards]
The most recent incumbent, Alastair Revell, was appointed by Council on Saturday, 16th October 2010. The appointment was made public on Tuesday, 4th January 2011.
cooperates with the IAP on professional development
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
is an institution for information technologists, based in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It is one of the UK's leading professional organisations for people working on business systems and computer software
Computer software
Computer software, or just software, is a collection of computer programs and related data that provide the instructions for telling a computer what to do and how to do it....
.
History
The IAP was founded in the 1970s by a group of computerComputer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...
enthusiasts that met at Cambridge University, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The organization was founded by Robert Charles, who was also the first general secretary. The current name was adopted in 1981.
Since 1993, the Institution of Analysts and Programmers has been a Company Limited by Guarantee
Company limited by guarantee
In British and Irish company law, a private company limited by guarantee is an alternative type of corporation used primarily for non-profit organisations that require legal personality. A guarantee company does not usually have a share capital or shareholders, but instead has members who act as...
owned by its members. The Institution is governed by a Council of 15, elected from the body of the membership, and is bound by a written constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
.
The membership includes business analyst
Business analyst
A Business Analyst analyzes the organization and design of businesses, government departments, and non-profit organizations; BAs also assess business models and their integration with technology.-Levels:...
s, computer systems analysts and programmer
Programmer
A programmer, computer programmer or coder is someone who writes computer software. The term computer programmer can refer to a specialist in one area of computer programming or to a generalist who writes code for many kinds of software. One who practices or professes a formal approach to...
s, as well as specialists in IT project management
Project management
Project management is the discipline of planning, organizing, securing, and managing resources to achieve specific goals. A project is a temporary endeavor with a defined beginning and end , undertaken to meet unique goals and objectives, typically to bring about beneficial change or added value...
. A growing number are from a business analysis background including architects and strategists developing software system
Software system
A software system is a system based on software forming part of a computer system . The term "software system" is often used as a synonym of computer program or software; is related to the application of systems theory approaches in software engineering context and are used to study large and...
s.
Aims and objectives
The Institution's written ConstitutionConstitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
sets out the aims and objectives. These are to:
- assist men and women to advance in the profession of computer analyst and programmer, and to secure public recognition of their professional status
- facilitate the advancement and spreading of knowledge within the profession
- promote high standards of competence and conduct
- provide a means for measuring professional competence
- encourage members to develop their skills and progress their careers
- help members protect themselves against liabilities arising in the exercise of their profession
- assist members who are seeking employment
- provide opportunities for members to meet
Membership Grades
The Institution admits members to one of five grades (in descending order of seniority):-FIAP - Fellow of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
MIAP - Member of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
AMIAP - Associate Member of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
GradIAP - Graduate Member of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
LIAP - Licentiate of the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
Chief Executives
The Institution has had three chief executive officers in its almost thirty year history:-Robert Charles (General Secretary) [1981-1990]
Mike Ryan (Director General) [1990-2010]
Alastair Revell (Director General) [2010 Onwards]
The most recent incumbent, Alastair Revell, was appointed by Council on Saturday, 16th October 2010. The appointment was made public on Tuesday, 4th January 2011.
Other information
The Institute of Continuing Professional DevelopmentInstitute of Continuing Professional Development
The Institute of Continuing Professional Development is the main institute concerned with continuing professional development in the United Kingdom...
cooperates with the IAP on professional development
Professional development
Professional development refers to skills and knowledge attained for both personal development and career advancement. Professional development encompasses all types of facilitated learning opportunities, ranging from college degrees to formal coursework, conferences and informal learning...
.