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

Brad,

I'd also like to know why we are getting these mixed messages from IBM.  If
RPG programmers are going to be flipping burgers unless they learn JAVA,
then why get certified for RPG?  In that case, shouldn't we be putting that
effort into java?

just wondering...

Kathleen Kostuck
___________________
pager (414) 402-0820       fax (414) 495-4986
kkostuck@execpc.com
AS400 Solutions
Secretary - Wisconsin Midrange Computer Professionals Association   
___________________
----------
> From: Stone, Brad V (TC) <bvstone@taylorcorp.com>
> To: 'MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com'
> Subject: RE: Re[2]: [Survey] What would you like to ask IBM about RPG cer
> Date: Wednesday, September 23, 1998 4:44 PM
> 
> 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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