Re[2]: Certification

     Ahhh, how does one quantify the qualities that make an effective 
     programmer. There's no way to test for excellence, only minimal 
     compliance. To me, the value of certification comes not from the 
     test, but from the value ascribed to the certificate by those in 
     charge (whoever they are). For example, if I've got certification 
     from "Billy Bob's Institute of RPG -n- Stuff", even though I may 
     know EVERYTHING there is to know about RPG and the AS400, the 
     certification is valueless unless someone out there trusts "Billy 
     Bob" and his program. Meanwhile, all the programmers with certs 
     from IBM, who may or may not know as much as I do, are all getting 
     jobs based on the "good name" of the certificate issuer. 
     
     What value is being ascribed to IBM's certification program? Do 
     people assume that IBM is endorsing your skill, since they typed 
     your name on the certificate? I suppose I'm concerned that I'll 
     have to get "certified" at some point in order to get work.... 
     
     Eric        


______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Certification 
Author:  <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com > at INET_WACO
Date:    9/29/98 1:26 AM


Steve,
     
You bring up very good points on currency.  I believe that certification would 
at least show competency by subject, at a point in time, and I would not be 
opposed to a periodic competency testing in any profession on basic principles.
     
As usual, the devil is in the details.
     
What is the talent being tested? Is there a policing agency that can monitor 
compliance? What is the yard stick used to measure by?
     
Since corolations have been popular in this thread, I'll bring up a conversation
I had with the president of a trucking company a few years back. The topic was 
user education.  His viewpoint was: they already know their job, they don't need
education (the implied part is that he's so good he doesn't hire uneducated 
people).  My retort was: I drive a stick, let me long haul one of your 18 
wheelers cross country.  The nasty look I got <G>!  After a loooong 5 second 
pause, I said: Isn't that what you are asking them to do? Get behind of a 250K 
rig and drive it without proper training?  Now the point is: what does a class 
"C" license imply (or certification).  I've been trained on a commercial 
vehicle.  Am I a good driver? Well, I'm not so bad that it's been suspended.
     
OK, so today I cram for some certification and there is no governing body to 
notice that I've violated so many rules that my license should be suspended.  
But I hang it on the wall to show that I'm a "qualified" professional.  Like 
there is any governing authority to "revoke" it?
     
Certs shmerts.  Referrals and testimonials are the name of the game in this and 
just about any other profession.  The plaques on the wall are to get business 
with those that picked your name out of the phone book or to get you past a 
recruiter that only has the authority to say no.
     
Having said that, (another boring story) I was giving a demo at an IBM center to
a company which manufactured mattress' and I asked permission to jointly 
demonstrate to a company that built motels.  Their original needs assessment was
similar (PR AP GL) and I requested to share the demonstration.  Both parties 
agreed to the arrangement.  After I got into it, I excused myself from the room 
to let the two talk.  Well, three things happened: 1) They did business with 
each other. 2) I got both contracts.  3) One of the two noticed that I left my 
briefcase in the room and took my client list and called EVERY one of them.
     
Upon confession of his dirty deed, I rearranged my list so that his name would 
appear first and therefore would receive the most calls!  (They start from the 
top) My advice to any and all clients has been to be honest.  How would they 
feel if someone "shined " them on and got into a nonfruitful relationship?  I'd 
rather live off the word of my clients than the recommendation of any local 
marketing rep or certification program.
     
I won't even get started on the local reps and the request for kick backs, but a
while back I read something that pointed out a losers strategy.  These included 
degrees/certifications obtained and years of service.   Neither prove currency 
nor competency but are used as a defense when solutions are questioned.
     
IMHO, the purpose of certification/degrees is to provide the decision maker an 
excusable justification for their decision and can therefore be held harmless, 
saving their position/pension. In the fast track world we live in, those that 
choose to do business with us do not have the luxury of time to actually get to 
know us before making a decision.  There is a need for a litmus test for 
exclusion to shorten the list for further consideration.  Again, the devil is in
the details.
     
Sorry to go on for so long, but I've considered challenging the courses for an 
MBA and upon reflection realized that obtaining one would only serve as a key to
enter a room of strangers.  Even the Harvard Business Review ran articles that 
show that there is one thing you (and anyone else) can be sure of when you 
obtain your degree: you have a degree.  The implied: you'll do what it takes to 
reach a goal. By hook or crook. That's not in the equation.  But maybe that is 
what the test is really designed for.
     
James W. Kilgore
qappdsn@ibm.net
     
Steve Glanstein wrote:
     
> Hi all:
>
> Needed to add my two cents on certification. 
>
> All certification means is that an individual met certain test requirements 
> on a specific date and time. It says nothing for that individual's skills
> following the test or even prior to the test. 
>
> Several issues must be addressed. The issue of licensure needs to be 
> addressed separately from the issues of currency and competency.
     
<<snip>>
     
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