About CPM
Program Design
The Certified Public Manager (CPM) program is recognized in Alaska as an effective vehicle for gaining or upgrading professional, technical and management skills. Alaska’s CPM program is designed to provide relevant, practical, and job-related instruction to individuals, regardless of prior academic preparation, who have need for supervision and management training for their jobs.
Program benefits
The Certified Public Manager program increases the capacity of its participants to lead people, manage work, and develop self. Courses are designed to:
- Equip Alaska’s current and future managers in the latest management information and techniques, new approaches, practical solutions and networking opportunities.
- Build extensive self awareness of the impact of one’s own style, values and beliefs in the role of leader.
- Use the foundation of theory and apply it to practical situations facing the participant, their agency/department, their organization/community and the state of Alaska.
- Promote on-the-job application of learning relevant to advancing the mission and objectives of their organization, improving services and creating results that matter most to customers and stakeholders.
As participants move through the program, the workplace will benefit from their enhanced skill sets. As the environment changes, organizations will have fully developed managers who can function in an environment of close public scrutiny, high expectations, increasing demands and constant change.
Program eligibility
Anyone, whether they work for the public sector, nonprofit agencies or private industry, interested in improving existing or gaining new management skills may register for a CPM course or enroll in the CPM program. Candidates for CPM designation need a high degree of conceptual ability, reading comprehension skills, and written and oral communication skills. CPM participants typically hold management or supervisory positions requiring direct supervision of other employees, although non-supervisors do enroll.
Program learning levels
There are three sequential levels in the Alaska Certified Public Manager program:
- Level One focuses on supervisory tasks and the commensurate skills necessary to supervise successfully. Completion of Level One is recognized by the Certificate of Supervisory Management.
- Level Two is directed toward broader skills and introduces concepts and practices in management. Completion of Level Two is recognized by the Certificate of Associate Manager.
- Level Three focuses on the leadership and organizational responsibilities of managers. Completion of Level Three is recognized by Certified Public Manager designation.
Note: Alaska's CPM Program awards non-transcripted, department-issued, continuing education certificates.
Program learning areas
Instructional topics range from entry-level supervisory skills to executive management skills. Each course offered through the CPM program falls into one of these learning areas:
- General administration and organization
This learning area covers knowledge and skills in general management, the role, functions, responsibilities and skills of the effective public manager, managerial ethics and professionalism, planning models, the nature of organizational goal setting, organizational design, organizational assessment and policy analysis and evaluation. - Technical, quantitative and qualitative skills
This learning area includes workshops on accounting principles, the state budgetary process and practices used in public jurisdictions, basic knowledge of the capabilities, limitation and uses of computers, statutes and regulations that govern employment law, the responsibilities and potential liabilities of managerial actions, and the basic principles of administrative law. - Analytical and conceptual skills
This learning area covers knowledge and skills in problem solving, decision-making models, research design and data analysis, quantitative and qualitative methods, and the tools necessary to analyze trends for managers to make reliable projections. - Human relations skills
This learning area covers knowledge and skills in interpersonal and organizational communication, leadership styles and the impact on employee morale and productivity, motivation, including setting performance standards and performance feedback, the principles of work groups, and conflict management.
Program learning competencies
Alaska CPM workshops and institutes provide opportunities for participants to apply the training to their work environment situations. The core curriculum incorporates the following seven (7) competencies.
- Personal and organizational integrity
Increasing awareness, building skills and modeling behaviors related to identifying potential ethical problems and conflicts of interest; appropriate workplace behavior; and legal and policy compliance. - Managing work
Meeting organizational goals through effective planning, prioritizing, organizing and aligning human, financial, material and information resources. Empowers others by delegating clear job expectations; providing meaningful feedback and coaching, creating a motivational environment and measuring performance. Monitors workload; documents performance. Deals effectively with performance problems. - Leading people
Inspires others to positive action through a clear vision; promotes a diverse workforce. Encourages and facilitates cooperation, pride, trust and group identity; fosters commitment and team spirit. Articulates a vision, ideas and facts in a clear and organized way; effectively manages emotions and impulses. - Developing self
Commitment to continuous learning, self-awareness and individual performance planning through feedback, study and analysis. - Systemic integration
Approaching planning, decision-making and implementation from an enterprise perspective; understanding external and internal relationships that impact the organization. - Public service focus
Delivering superior services to the public and internal and external recipients; includes customer/client identification, expectations, needs and the development/implementation of paradigms, processes and procedures that exude positive spirit and climate; demonstrates agency and personal commitment to quality public service. - Change leadership
Acts as change agent; initiates and supports change within the organization by implementing strategies to help others adapt to changes in the work environment, including personal reactions to change with emphasis on fostering creativity, innovation and being proactive.
