CITI was initially established as a specialist university institute in 1983; fusing the expertise of Cranfield University with the interests of six major users of change management: British Aerospace, British Gas, British Petroleum, British Telecom, Cable & Wireless and Longman.
Today, CITI is focused on providing support to our clients who are intent on improving the success of their change initiatives. Our long heritage in developing capability feeds into our consultants' knowledge and skill base, while the experience gained in supporting clients to develop their change capability enriches and keeps alive the theories and practices we employ.
Our proudest achievement is the way our clients say they have benefited from working with us – our models and approaches merging seamlessly into the way they work to implement successful change.
The true measure of value, and what makes our history the basis of CITI's future, is the longevity of our relationships with our clients – some lasting more than 20 years – as our partners and client-friends.
Historic milestones
1985 – Cranfield Information Technology Institute (CITI) emerges from its specialist university institute roots and is incorporated. This was the result of Sir Henry Chilver’s vision of breaking new ground by providing education, research and consultancy through the commercial and industrial organisations it serves.
1987 – Undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships are provided to CITI by the Department of Education. Consultancy and development assignments are undertaken in various industries and commercial sectors. CITI is given the first parliamentary dispensation to make a profit while providing tertiary education qualifications and work-based developments.
1990 – Launch of the MSc in Business Process Management, awarded through Cranfield University. CITI becomes part of the Butler Cox consulting group on the 1st March 1990.
1991 – Butler Cox and CITI become part of CSC Index, the management consultancy arm of Computer Sciences Corporation Inc. (CSC).
An empirical study of what makes a successful project manager is commissioned by CSC to improve its project management community. This becomes the launch point for CITI’s project and programme management profiling offering. The study is ongoing to date. The findings also would be used to ensure that CITI’s offerings focus on the areas that give the greatest returns to its clients in the delivery of change.
1992 – The MSc is moved to Bradford Management Centre to reflect it’s heavy emphasis on management.
1993 – A management buy-out of CITI was performed by current directors. Its HQ is established in Bletchley, near to Bletchley Park.
CITI moves its HQ to the village of Salford, between Cranfield and Milton Keynes and undertakes a phased programme of growth.
1996 – A certificate in advanced project management is launched under the aegis of Lancaster University’s Project Management School.
2000 – The organic growth that CITI has enjoyed since its inception necessitates the move to the current HQ in Newport Pagnell. The strategy reflects a balance between practical consulting and interim delivery with developing capability in our clients.
2004 – CITI adopts a proposition-based strategic approach to serving its client base. ‘Classroom' courses become less common as highly-customised approaches to development of the community and strategic change management are provided to clients. This holistic provision focuses entirely on client’s success and pays significant dividends.
2005 – CITI launches the Centres for Excellence Club (CofEe Club) for our clients and other interested organisations. CofEe Club is a forum for executives and senior managers to share experiences and best practice in successfully managing change.
2005 – The Postgraduate Certificate in Managing Complex Projects is launched in partnership with Middlesex University, through the National Centre for Project Management.
2007 – Our sister company, PiCubed www.pi3.co.za, is formed in South Africa. PiCubed delivers change through projects, portfolios and programmes. Central to this approach is the concept of creating business value through effective benefits management.
2008 – The MSc in Managing Major Projects and Programmes, which is focused on successful change management, is offered in partnership with Middlesex University.
2010 – Membership of CofEe Club passes the 500 mark at the time of the twentieth meeting. With a limit of fifty members at each meeting, competition for places increases.
2011 – Based on two years of applied research into what makes change successful, supported by our unparalleled knowledge and experience of delivering change through projects, programmes and portfolios, CITI introduces the change diamond as our framework for managing change. The change diamond has immediate resonance with our clients.