By Javier Masini, CVS – Director of Education, SAVE International
Whatever our profession or culture is, you may agree that if there is a year we could label “The Year of Change,” that definitely has to be 2020. By choice or by chance, we have adapted our offices and homes for remote work, and even our kids have adapted to remote learning. We all had to learn new skills, acquire new tools, and follow new protocols. Our first-ever virtual Value Summit is solid proof that our Society is not unfamiliar to these historical times, and that should be a positive outcome for all of us.
Talking about education, as you all know, the virtual Value Methodology Fundamentals 1 (VMF 1) course is now an accepted format when the proper protocols provided by SAVE International are followed – and this will remain valid until December 31, 2020. In the last few months, quite a few courses have been taught this way, and representatives from the SAVE Board and Certification Board had been actively observing the best practices and opportunities provided by our licensed instructors.
Besides taming the well-known challenges and opportunities presented by this pandemic, you all know that this summer SAVE published our brand new VM Guide. I personally believe that this was an exciting achievement as a professional society since it was written and actively revised by more than 60 experienced members from all over the world, from private and public organizations. With this said, the VM Guide is not only honoring the history of the Value Methodology (VM) and the legacy from Larry Miles, but compiles decades of proven experienced practice, while respecting the need to evolve. As a reminder, the VM Guide does not include all the VM techniques available but focuses on identifying the basic theory, guidance and techniques that a Certified Value Specialist (CVS) should know.
In June 2021, during our Value Summit in Phoenix, the VM Guide will become SAVE’s official language and reference for the professional application and practice of the VM, as well as the baseline for certification and education. To achieve this, all SAVE Boards are now collaborating to make all these different elements to align in synchrony, and we are doing this considering all the information and experience gained from this year’s virtual workshops.
With this preamble, our licensed VMF 1 course needs to be updated to cope with the winds of change. A special committee will be formed to update Its content and slides to match the new VM Guide and glossary, and an eight-hour online theory training will be created to support the course plan. Between now and then, we will keep you updated in this Education Forum about the milestones achieved and all ongoing related activities (there will be a few where you will be invited to participate or attend).
In the meantime, we invite all of you to become familiar with the new VM Guide. Yes, that will be your homework, as stated in the title of this article. We encourage you to share your experiences, positive and negative, through SAVE’s social networks.
Until the next time, keep safe my colleague practitioners!
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