Re: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about RPG certification?

Brad,

In a message dated 98-09-21 16:33:08 EDT, you write:

> I'm putting together an article for MC that is sort of a Q&A with IBM
>  about the benifits or pitfalls of RPG Certification.  

Congratulations!

>  If you wanted to ask IBM a question, what would it be?  Things like "Why
>  should I be certified if I already have a degree?" or "I don't use SEU,
>  so why should the questions on the test about SEU effect my final
>  score?".  Anything you want.  
<<snip>>

The "why should I be certified if I already have a degree" question is pretty
self-evident.  Saaawwwrrrrreeee, but I've dealt with numerous people with even
advanced degrees that couldn't write a decent piece of code to save their
lives.  Programming is an art, and "ya' either got it or you don't".  But that
wasn't your question.

IBM has tried to develop an "ability-neutral" certification test.  I believe
that the latter is a fool's pursuit.  There are just _FAR_ too many different
"flavors" of RPG sites for any one test to serve them all well.  Use CODE/400
or VA/RPG?  SEU questions are worthless.  Vice-versa is worthless as well.
ILE sites rarely use RPG/400 and vice-versa.  I would propose that there be an
"editor" test seperate of the "language certification" test, and would ask IBM
why RPG isn't seperated into its' various disciplines...

JMHO,

Dean Asmussen
Enterprise Systems Consulting, Inc.
Fuquay-Varina, NC  USA
E-Mail:  DAsmussen@aol.com

"A man who is not a liberal in his youth has no heart.  A man who is not
conservative in his later years has no brain." -- Otto Van Bismarck
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