ICxA Global Standards

ICxA Global Standards

The world’s first integrated framework for delivering assured outcomes in major capital projects.

ICxA publishes interconnected standards that define how complex infrastructure projects achieve their intended outcomes. These standards guide leaders from early decision making through system readiness and day one operational performance.

Together, they form a unified governance model for outcome-first leadership.

Outcome Assurance Governance Standard

Design projects for outcomes, not activity.

This standard establishes the foundation for strategic clarity, governance discipline, and decision integrity. It gives leaders a structured way to:

  • Define the intended outcome of the project

  • Establish the conditions required to achieve it

  • Govern delivery through evidence, integration, and system-level thinking

  • Maintain alignment between purpose, investment, and execution

This is the starting point for all outcome-led projects.

Systems-Based Readiness Standard

Ensure the system works as a system.

This standard provides a unified approach to preparing, integrating, and validating the complete system. It ensures that:

  • All subsystems align with the intended operational outcome

  • Interfaces, dependencies, and risks are clearly understood and managed

  • Readiness activities remain focused on outcomes rather than checklists

  • Leaders receive evidence that the system can perform before handover

This standard forms the bridge between intent and operational capability.

Operational Readiness Assurance Standard

Guarantee day one performance.

This standard defines the conditions needed for an asset to operate safely, reliably, and as intended on day one. It establishes:

  • Requirements for operational capability

  • Human and organizational readiness

  • Scenario-based validation

  • Evidence required for sponsors, regulators, and operators to approve go live

This is the final assurance that outcomes will be realized during real-world operation.

A Unified Framework for Assured Outcomes

Together, the three standards create a complete, end-to-end outcome assurance model:

  1. Govern the purpose with the Outcome Assurance Governance Standard

  2. Integrate and prepare the system with the Systems-Based Readiness Standard

  3. Validate operational capability with the Operational Readiness Assurance Standard

This framework ensures that investment decisions, system design, delivery execution, and operational readiness are all aligned to one goal: assured outcomes that deliver lasting public value.

Access the Standards

The standards are available to ICxA members. Join today to download the full documents and begin applying Outcome Assurance on your projects.

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