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Product Endorsements
Through its strategic partnership with the Office of Government Commerce, The APM Group runs a successful evaluation service for project management products and software tools. The service enables vendors to demonstrate the degree of alignment of their products with the principles of OGC's Best Practice Portfolio.
This service is now being expanded to cover publications and other Project and Programme Management-related products. Vendors who already hold a valid OGC Trade Mark Licence can also apply to have their products endorsed by APMG.
You can find more information on accreditation of software tools by visiting APMG's website at www.apmgroup.co.uk.
How the scheme works
Applicants submit their application for endorsement to APMG. In addition, applicants are welcome to submit any further material that they feel may support their application, or be of relevance to it.
The amount of effort required for endorsement assessment is determined by the assessor and will consist of an in-depth review of the product's functionality, adherence to OGC Best Practice, and marketing claims.
The assessor will produce a report based on his findings; this will be sent to the Certification Board for approval, as well as to the applicant for information. The report provided by the assessor will not be published without the applicant's agreement.
Once the applicant, assessor and APMG agree to publication, this is posted on the relevant section of the APM Group website and APMG will authorise the applicant to display the endorsement mark on their product.
The report is also sent to any relevant magazine editors for publication.
Endorsed products may carry the APMG endorsement mark. The report will relate the suitability of the product to the full principles of specified OGC operational guidance, functionality, and claims in the marketing material. The endorsement assessment process is seen as a highly detailed review of the product against strict criteria and also against the elements stated above.
The assessment report will be a statement of fact (as judged by the assessor), will not be endorsed by OGC and it will not judge the ranking of the product in its class.
The assessment will be explicitly linked to a specific edition or version of the product. An updated report can be issued subject to the applicant paying a time-based fee for a reviewer to assess the improvements. This also applies to any translation into other languages.
Benefits to Customers
- Verification that the product has been quality reviewed and assessed by APMG.
- Reassurance that the product conforms to OGC Best Practice Guidance.
- Reassurance that the product meets its marketing claims.
- Independent confirmation or verification of the product's capability.
- Publication of the assessment report in PM Today and on the APMG website free of charge.
Details of software tools that have been assessed so far can be found on APMG's Software Tool Evaluation Service web pages.
