DSDM Consotrium

What DSDM Consotrium does

DSDM Consortium, legally Agile Business Consortium Limited, is a UK-based not-for-profit professional body founded in 1994 that develops and disseminates agile and business agility frameworks, certifications, and practitioner communities. Its core intellectual property includes the Framework for Business Agility and a portfolio of globally accredited certifications — AgilePM, AgileBA, AgileDS, AgilePgM, and Scrum — administered in partnership with APMG International. The organization originated the DSDM (Dynamic Systems Development Method) framework in 1994 and was the only non-US co-signatory of the Agile Manifesto in 2001; it rebranded as Agile Business Consortium in 2016 to broaden scope beyond IT and software into all business functions.

The business operates a hybrid revenue model anchored in recurring individual and organizational memberships, supplemented by certification fees (Foundation and Practitioner levels) delivered through APMG-accredited training partners, self-paced learning courses (50+ hours of content), and a year-round events programme including masterclasses, meet-ups, webinars, and the Agility Impact Awards. Customer segments span project managers, business analysts, organizational leaders, and function-specific practitioners in HR, marketing, and finance, served via both direct membership sales and a free subscriber tier.

The organization maintains an 11-50 employee footprint, serves a global network of 297,750+ certified professionals across 149 countries, and is governed by CEO Karen McAllen and Chair Katie Taylor. Distribution is multi-channel — direct website registration, accredited partner network, content marketing, podcasting, and active social media presence across LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube — with no disclosed subsidiaries, parent company, or external investment backing.

Name

DSDM Consotrium

Legal name

Agile Business Consortium Limited

Website

https://dsdm.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Agile Business Consortium (formerly DSDM Consortium) is a UK-based not-for-profit professional body that develops agile certifications (AgilePM, AgileBA, AgileDS, AgilePgM, Scrum) and the Framework for Business Agility, serving 297,750+ certified practitioners across 149 countries through membership, accredited training partners, and community programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification and Training

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Foundational PM & Delivery Methods (Waterfall/Agile/Hybrid) (EDABAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Scaled Agile & Enterprise Product Delivery (SAFe/LeSS/Nexus) (EDABAHAJ), Corporate Training Course Marketplaces (B2B Content Libraries) (EDAFAIAH)

Keywords

• Agile project management
• Business agility framework
• Professional certification programs
• Agile programme management
• Scrum certification training

Headquarters

HQ city

Kent

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Individual Membership: Year-round access to global network, practical resources, exclusive learning and member-only events. Membership tiers grow with career progression from first project management to organizational transformation.
2. Organization Membership: Team/organizational membership providing access to learning, resources and community for multiple professionals within an organization.
3. Professional Certifications: Revenue from globally recognized certifications including AgilePM, AgileBA, AgileDS, AgilePgM, and Scrum. Certifications offered at Foundation and Practitioner levels.
4. Learning and Short Courses: 50+ hours of self-paced courses plus growing library of templates, guides and case studies available to members.
5. Events and Masterclasses: Revenue from events including masterclasses, meet-ups and member-only events featuring hands-on learning with latest thinking.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Agile Business Consortium (formerly DSDM Consortium) is a UK-based not-for-profit professional body that develops, owns and licenses the DSDM agile framework and a suite of APMG-International-accredited certifications including AgilePM, AgileBA, AgileDS, AgilePgM and Scrum. It sells individual and organization memberships, globally accredited professional certifications, self-paced learning courses (50+ hours), the proprietary Framework for Business Agility, paid masterclasses and events, and access to global practitioner communities.

Product overview

The Agile Business Consortium (formerly DSDM Consortium) offers a portfolio of professional certifications, learning frameworks, and community services focused on business agility. The core offerings include globally recognized certifications through APMG International: AgilePM® (project management), AgileBA® (business analysis), AgileDS® (digital services), AgilePgM® (programme management), and Scrum (at Essentials, Master, and Product Owner levels). These are supported by the Framework for Business Agility, which provides a comprehensive guide covering strategy, people, leadership, culture, governance and operations. The portfolio also includes self-paced learning courses (50+ hours), events and masterclasses, practitioner communities, and resource content spanning articles, podcasts, and white papers. The organization operates as a not-for-profit professional body serving 297,750+ certified professionals across 149 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AgilePM Certification World's leading certification for agile project management, combining structure with flexibility to deliver real outcomes. Available at Foundation and Practitioner levels through APMG International-accredited delivery.
• AgileBA Certification Certification for business analysis in agile environments, bridging the gap between business needs and delivery teams; offered through APMG International accreditation.
• AgileDS Certification Structured agile approach to digital services, inspired by principles that transformed UK Government Digital Service delivery; offered via APMG International accreditation.
• AgilePgM Certification Certification for managing agile programmes at scale, enabling leadership of complex change with structure and adaptability; offered via APMG International accreditation.
• Scrum Certifications Scrum certifications available at Essentials, Master, and Product Owner levels, built for business agility and applicable in HR, sales, marketing and beyond, not just IT.
• Framework for Business Agility A complete guide to building organizations that adapt, learn and deliver, covering strategy, people, leadership, culture, governance and operations across the whole organization, not just IT.
• Self-paced Learning Courses Over 50 hours of self-paced courses, plus a growing library of templates, guides and case studies for immediate application to work, available to members.
• Individual Membership Recurring individual professional membership providing year-round access to the global agile practitioner network, practical learning resources, exclusive learning content and member-only events, with tiers growing from first project management through to organizational transformation.
• Organization Membership Recurring team or organizational membership providing access to learning, resources and the practitioner community for multiple professionals within a single organization, supporting development of whole teams.
• Events and Masterclasses Year-round programme of masterclasses, meet-ups, webinars and member-only events featuring hands-on learning with the latest thinking and practitioner networking.

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• APMG InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal accreditation partner for Agile Business Consortium certifications. Provides accreditation services ensuring quality and global recognition of certification programmes including AgilePM, AgileBA, AgileDS, and AgilePgM.
• Agile Manifesto Co-signatoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DSDM Consortium (now Agile Business Consortium) was a co-signatory to the Agile Manifesto for Software Development in 2001, alongside 16 other organizations. The Agile Business Consortium is the only co-signatory not based in the US.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ICAgile: ICAgile offers a broad catalog of agile and business agility certifications covering team, delivery, business and enterprise tracks that overlap directly with ABC's AgilePM, AgileBA and AgilePgM certificates.
• Disciplined Agile (PMI): Disciplined Agile is PMI's agile delivery framework offering certifications and toolkits that compete with ABC's AgilePM and AgilePgM at the delivery and programme layers.
• Scaled Agile (SAFe): Scaled Agile owns the SAFe framework and related program consultant/agile certification paths, competing with ABC's AgilePgM for scaled agile programme leadership credentials. It is the dominant commercial player in scaled agile.
• International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA): IIBA is the global professional body for business analysts offering CBAP and Agile Analysis Certification, providing the most direct competition for ABC's AgileBA credential and business analysis community positioning.
• BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT: BCS is a UK-based chartered professional body offering IT and digital certifications with overlapping practitioner communities and UK membership base. It is a directly comparable professional-body peer in the same domestic market.
• AXELOS: AXELOS owns PRINCE2 and other globally recognized project management methodologies, competing with ABC's AgilePM in the same UK/European buyer base and through overlapping APMG-aligned training channels.
• Scrum Alliance: Scrum Alliance is the most established agile certification body globally, offering Scrum credentials that directly overlap with ABC's Scrum certifications. It is the natural head-to-head competitor for agile practitioner certifications.

Broad incumbents

• Project Management Institute (PMI): PMI is the world's largest project management professional body, offering PMI-ACP and Disciplined Agile certifications that compete with ABC's agile portfolio. PMI is broader than agile only but is the dominant incumbent project management body.

Others

• APMG International: APMG International is ABC's accreditation and certification delivery partner, but it is also a broader accreditation body that administers PRINCE2, ITIL and other frameworks. It is an ecosystem enabler more than a competitor.

Emerging players

• Agile Coaching Institute: Agile Coaching Institute offers agile coaching certifications and training focused on team-level agility, partially overlapping with ABC's Scrum and AgilePM offerings for individual practitioners.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@agile-business-consortium
• Facebookfacebook.com/114659098733569
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dsdm-consortium
• Instagraminstagram.com/agile_biz
• Xx.com/dsdm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DSDM Consotrium