Re: Certification

Weatherly, Howard wrote:

> Sorry I must reply on this,
>
> --SoapBoxMode--
> Some analogies should never be uttered, this is one of them... When
> was the last time you observed an 8080 list program responsible for
> the life or death of someone? Probably never! So the doctor analogy is
> useless in this context,
> as most analogies that attempt to support some current view are.
> --EndSoapBox--

I worked in a Blood Bank and we had several RPG programs that made life or
death decisions.  They were called "Control Programs" and the FDA was
intensly concerned with the testing and change control process that
surrounded these programs.  If the Blood Bank violated any FDA guidelines
they were at risk of being immediately shut down.

I'm sure there are other industries too in which programs make life or
death decisions; pharmecuticals, hospitals, air traffic control, etc.  And
behind all of these programs stands one or more human programmers that
wrote and/or modified them.

One little bug, one untested branch of code could have life or death
implications.  So the analogy with doctors actually works quite well. (But
lawyers?   Eeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwww!  :^)

jte


>
>
> That out of the way, I agree that there are some very useful reasons
> to obtain certification, and I believe that it is most useful for
> those individuals just entering the job market, you know them, they
> are the ones in catch22 no experience and hence no job offer by which
> to achieve experience! For most of us who have been in the business
> since punchcards were a glimmer in Preston Eckerts mind, it makes NO
> sense.
>
> Quite honestly, I resent the view that a great number of folks seem to
> hold, "IF you do not have a Cert, you are of no value" . Just forget
> all of the priceless experience that seasoned IS people have in favor
> of a piece of paper!
> Harrrrumph!!!!
>
> ______________________________________________________________________
> ___
> Howard Weatherly
>
> hweatherly@dlis.dla.mil
> howard.weatherly@ctg.com
> hweath@ibm.net
>
> X4324
>
>  <<Certification>>
>
>   ------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: Certification
> Date: Thu, 24 Sep 1998 11:45:34 -0400
> From: money@kalos.com
> Reply-To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
>
> Now you are on the track for one of the primary reasons for
> certification.
>
> Some interesting questions are
>      How may customers ask your FIRM if you  are certified before you
> are
> hired?
>      (Granted there were paper CNEs, but customers still wanted a CNE
> to do
> the work)
>      How many ways will and does IBM ask you if you are certified
> before
> you can participate in a program?
>      Will IBM require Global Services to hold certifications?
>      Will certification affect retention/salary?
> Back to the thread of conversation
>      What weight does a certification hold when you hire someone?
>
> A certification is a tool, not a perfect tool.  A good certification
> says
> that someone has some knowledge, skills, and  experience according to
> an
> objective set of criteria established by a third party.  Because I
> passed a
> certification exam doesn't mean "Hire me";  it means I have some of
> the
> tools and even know how to us some of them.
>
> Finally
>
> When was the last time you went to a Doctor that wasn't licesned to
> practice or a lawyer who hadn't passed the bar.
>
> uucp@UUCP1.MCS.NET on 09/23/98 05:16:42 PM
>
> Please respond to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
>
>
>
>  To:      DAsmussen@aol.com
>
>  cc:      MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com(bcc: David Money/Kalos)
>
>
>
>  Subject: Re: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about
>           RPG certification?
>
>
> Frankly,
>
> I'ld rather see them Certify that their "business partner's" software
> ACTUALLY WORKS!  ...THAT's the kinda certification that would make the
> most use to me!
>
> Don in DC
>
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--
John Earl   PowerTech Toolworks
johnearl@toolnet.com  www.toolnet.com
253-858-7388   206-575-0711
PowerLock Network Security for the AS/400
--



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