AICE is carrying out an ambitious research project entitled: "Beyond Total Cost Management (TCM) to Systemic Value Management (SVM)". The project aims to build an innovative definition of the discipline and profession of Total Cost Management, which is undergoing transformation induced by the great socio-technical challenges and new business management and innovation models. The evolution towards a Systemic Value Management logic is necessary to adopt a more systemic vision which safeguards all the multiple dimensions of value generated and sustainability from an ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) perspective.

The initial phase of the project (literature analysis and conceptual development) ended with the publication, in October 2022, of the article "Beyond Total Cost Management (TCM) to Systemic Value Management (SVM): Transformational Trends and a Research "Manifesto for an evolving discipline" in the open access journal Sustaninabiliy (MDPI, ISSN: 2071-1050). The work provided a preliminary description of the SVM conceptual framework.

 During 2023, the research team therefore developed an analysis and feedback collection model and developed a questionnaire to be submitted to a large group of professionals and experts in the TCM world. The analysis of the responses will allow us to refine the SVM model and therefore share it in the international community.

We hope to produce the preliminary results of the research by the end of 2023. At an academic level, the research will lead to a refinement of current knowledge on systemic approaches to managing projects and businesses in complex scenarios. On a professional level, the research will offer managers and executives a qualified basis to implement innovative development projects in the TCM sector.

Would you like to become more proficient in your profession? Then register for the "Certified Cost Engineer" training. This training provides you with professional tools when it comes to reliable budgeting, planning, risk analysis and control (of costs) of projects. The focus of the course is on the application of Cost Engineering in the process industry (petrochemical, food and beverages, etc.), but parallels will be drawn to other industries such as infrastructure and construction throughout the course.
 
Certified Cost Engineer (CCE) - The program is accredited by the International Cost Engineering Council (ICEC). After obtaining the diploma you will receive the, by ICEC accredited, title of Certified Cost Engineer (CCE).

For whom? - The training is intended for professionals with a passion for the field of Cost Engineering, such as (Jr.) Cost Engineers, Cost Estimators and Project Control Engineers. They have a completed technical higher professional or university education and relevant work experience, or MBO education with at least 5 years of relevant work experience.

Practical information - The training is in English, it consists of 6 blocks of three days and takes place mostly at locations central in the Netherlands. The first block will start in January 2024 and the training will run until May 2025.

You can register via the application form on the website via this CertifiedCostEngineer-link. We would like to receive your registration before December 15th 2023. 

AICE organizes an online seminar on November 25th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm titled: NEXT-GENERATION TCM: the Value of TCM in a changing world.

The webinar will be held on Microsoft TEAMS subscriptions at the following LINK.

Speakers: Alfredo Biffi, Emanuele Banchi, Gianluca di Castri, Alessandro Margherita and Agnete Skytte.

Total Cost Management has always been a discipline in constant evolution and as a whole represents a systematic and global approach to the management of value. The first definitions, born with AICE in 1979 and then matured in the following 80s and 90s, have developed over time until arriving in recent years at the TCM model that AICE has been proposing since 2015 as a reference for this discipline (also for Certification issued by AICE in Italy and accredited worldwide by ICEC). With this event, AICE proposes a reflection on the great social, technological and market transformations and their impact on the evolution of the Total Cost Management discipline. Starting from the current models and definitions of TCM, how can we build a "captivating" and high impact future using TCM as a lever? What are the new paradigms that need to be considered in order to develop the tools and professionalism that new trends require today?

We are pleased to inform about the publication of the article titled "Beyond Total Cost Management to Systemic Value Management: transformational trends and a research manifesto for an evolving discipline" in the prestigious magazine "Sustainability".
An important document on the meaning and value of TCM and what this discipline may become in the future.
Here below the abstract of the article that can be downloaded directly from the Sustainability website:  https://www.mdpi.com/1874822

Abstract:
"Total cost management (TCM) has developed as a systematic approach to managing resources, costs, profitability, and risks throughout the lifecycle of any enterprise, program, facility, project, product or service. However, a number of trends are today creating a new socio-technical scenario, characterized by increasing volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), which is affecting the strategic scope and applicative dimensions of TCM. A logic of sustainability and multi-stakeholder value is increasingly required to account for the competing and multi-dimensional needs of customers, employees, partners, and large stakeholder ecosystems. This article presents a review of cross-disciplinary literature and the use of authors’ engagement and consolidated expertise in the field to drive a group model building process aimed to design a conceptual framework and a research manifesto for the evolving TCM discipline. The study provides a classification of nine major trends and evaluates the impact of those trends on a number of TCM dimensions. Next, a research agenda is showed, including nine trajectories for scholars and practitioners engaged to support the evolution of TCM towards a new idea of systemic value management (SVM). The study advances the current knowledge on value-based and sustainable approaches to management and offers to experts and practitioners a basis to implement innovative development projects in the field of TCM."