RE: Re[2]: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about RPG cer -- MIDRANGE-L

These are all great, Kathleen!  Thanks for the input!

Brad

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kathleen Kostuck [SMTP:kkostuck@execpc.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 23, 1998 3:08 PM
> To:   MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> Subject:      Re: Re[2]: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about
> RPG cer
> 
> Brad,
> 
> Ask how best to prepare.  Expected time to completion.  Pass/Failure
> rates.
> Number of certifications already issued.  Demographics of successfully
> certified programmers, like average years of experience and breakdown
> by
> industry type, geographics, etc.  Consultants vs. captive. How was the
> test
> written? By whom? How often is it updated?
> 
> I'd like to know.
> 
> Kathleen Kostuck
> ___________________
> pager (414) 402-0820       fax (414) 495-4986
> kkostuck@execpc.com
> AS400 Solutions
> Secretary - Wisconsin Midrange Computer Professionals Association   
> ___________________
> ----------
> > From: eric.delong@pmsi-services.com
> > To: MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
> > Subject: Re[2]: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about RPG
> cer
> > Date: Wednesday, September 23, 1998 10:33 AM
> > 
> > 
> >      Personally, I don't believe that any certification or degree 
> >      program can be used to grade ability. I have neither, nor do I
> see 
> >      the need to attain such to prove myself. Years of experience
> pay 
> >      off in terms of skill and wisdom that cannot be matched in a 
> >      classroom. 
> >      
> >      To me, the only real value in such a certification program
> would be 
> >      for persons new to the platform, just out of school, and so
> forth. 
> >      Do I think such certification should be a requirement for a 
> >      position? Absolutely NOT....
> >      
> >      I have a hard time figuring out just who is reaping benefit
> from 
> >      the certification programs. Is it the employer who can expect
> at 
> >      least minimal competency from a potential candidate, or is it
> the 
> >      newbie who's resume declares lack of experience...... either
> way, 
> >      the benefit is limited.
> >      
> >      eric.delong@pmsi-services.com 
> > 
> > 
> > ______________________________ Reply Separator
> _________________________________
> > Subject: Re: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about RPG
> certif
> > Author:  <MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com > at INET_WACO
> > Date:    9/23/98 9:00 PM
> > 
> > 
> > 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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