Re: IBM Certifications

[Larry Bolhuis <lbolhui@xxxxxxx>]

> the general concensus I'm hearing is that they're about useless....

  You've hit a nerve here again.  Please define 'useless' and which tests you
apply this to.

  Please remember that if this is only secondhand information you may very well
be hearing this from someone who failed a test.  If this person considers
themself an expert in the area or others do and they fail a test it is human
nature to blame the test.  As it works out the person who failed may indeed be 
an
expert in some of the material on the test but not on all of the test material. 
Even if the person passed the test they may have expected a higher score or been
upset about some questions they were unsure about.

  Remember that the tests are written by a mix of IBM and non-IBM SMEs. They are
from many areas of business.  The material the tests cover is determined by
survey, not from the SMEs alone.  An unfortunately low (but statistically valid)
percentage of the surveys get returned and they determine whether Journaling,
DASD Management, or whatever gets included in the test.

  Certainly there are a few tests that need updating as this process is never
done.  There are tests undergoing review and updating constantly.  The feedback
that is sent in (though rarely acknowledged) IS fed back into the process.

  The tests ARE improving and the number of persons taking them is rising.  
Given
enough time we will all realize the benefits of certification testing.

  - Larry


-- 
Larry Bolhuis         | What do You want to Reload today?
Arbor Solutions, Inc  | Don't throw your PC out the window,
(616) 451-2500        |  throw WINDOWS out of your PC.
(616) 451-2571 -fax   | Two rules to success in life:
lbolhui@ibm.net       | 1. Never tell people everything you know.
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