PMP

Erik Eckel Opines on “10 Best IT Certifications”

In digging through some Microsoft PR materials recently, I came across mention of a Top 10 IT certification list that Erik Eckel put together for TechRepublic, later reprinted by big-time training company Global Knowledge. Though it’s dated December 12, 2008 it still provides some interesting information for consideration, and some fodder for ongoing debate. I’m not quite sure that I fully understand his selection criteria which he describes as follows “While this list may not include the 10 best accreditations for you, it does catalog 10 IT certifications that possess significant value for a wide range of technology professionals.”

Here’s his list as ranked at TechRepublic in straight numerical order:

1. MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional), with specific mention of database developer, database administrator, enterprise messaging administrator, and server asministrator
2. MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist), with specific mention of SQL Server business intelligence, database creation, or SQL server administration
3. CompTIA Security+, with an observation that “security continues to be a critical topic”
4. MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer) with specific mention of the Windows Developer 3.5, ASP.NET Developer 3.5, and Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5 tracks
5. CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate), with an emphasis on increasing dependence on remote access technologies, even at smaller companies
6. Comptia A+, iwth an emphasis on “proven support expertise” in the areas of desktop installation, problem diagnosis, preventive maintenance, and computer/network troubleshooting.
7. PMP (Project Management Professional) with an emphasis on “job skills and knowledge required to plan, execute, budget, and lead a technology project”
8. MCSE/MCSA (Microsoft Certified System Engineer/Administrator) represent Microsoft’s previous take on basic admin (MCTS) and professional (MCITP) certs, and enjoy amazing certficiation population numbers–as Eckel observes “…these certifications tend to indicate holders that have been working within the technology field for a long time.”
9. CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional) receives mention for “…building a respected, vendor-neutral security certification,” that’s also accredited by ANSI.
10. CompTIA Linux+ get a nod because “…the open source alternative is an important platform…”

Given these choices, it’s no wonder that Microsoft is promoting this list: they’ve garnered 4 out of 10 (really 5 out of 11) choices therein. CompTIA might also take cheer as well from the inclusion of Network+, Security+, and A+ (of which Network+ and A+ are by far its most popular credentials). And certainly, all the other elements in the list–CCNA, PMP, and CISSP–are all immensely popular and highly sought-after credentials as well.

Though Eckel’s selection criteria and methods aren’t entirely clear, this blog makes me wish that CertCities.com would revive its Top 10 lists, which used to be an interesting marker between one year and the next for IT professionals. At  least their list came from a survey of thousands of active IT participants, an could in some sense be argued as representative of collective interests. Funny how those lists of yore don’t differ too much from Eckel’s list, either.

I wouldn’t have any arguments with this list, in fact, if it used the word “Popular” instead of “Best” to describe its constituents, because there’s almost no argument about any of these on a pure numbers basis. But the definition of best is one that’s fraught with peril, and certainly subject to lots of differing interpretations. While he does give the CCIE passing mention in his CCNA item, I’d be inclined to put it in any Top 10 Best I were to put together,  and I’d be more inclined to pick rather more senior-level credentials rather than entry-levels ones like the CompTIA items, MCTS, and CCNA. But that’s my “best” interpretation showing. What’s yours?

The Perils, Pitfalls, and Pluses of Project Management

In previous blogs I’ve discussed the potential value of project management as a soft skill (particularly in Part 4 of my Soft Skills Survey sequence from September 08). I remain completely convinced that for most IT professionals, especially those who aspire to technical lead or IT management positions, there are few better ways to pursue such career goals than by going after training and certification in this area. The Project Management Institute rules in this arena, where its CAPM (Certified Associate in Project Management) and PMP (Project Management Professional) certifications stand out amidst a field of possible options (a nice survey appears in this About.com article “Project Management Certification“).

But I hasten to point out that acquiring project management certs is one thing, and rigorously practicing project management disciplines is entirely another. This is one of those areas, like so many others, where a little bit of knowledge can be more dangerous than complete ignorance. For example, Jadeep’s “Project Management - A Sad Story” blog posting tells a truly pathetic tale of “over-promising and under delivering” on client projects.

Just because you have a project manager appointed and responsible for projects doesn’t mean that the projects will actually be managed. There must be sufficient discipline and involvement from staff at all levels to make sure that reports coincide with reality, that milestones are being met, deliverables created and actually delivered, and so forth, for any kind of project to succeed. As Jadeep’s tangled mess so aptly illustrates, sometimes things get out of hand and must be rescued or reworked. When this happens, the first order of business is to determine what the real status is and when, if ever, anything can actually be built, delivered, implemented, or whatever the project plan calls for. After that it’s usually time to revise the requirements, revisit the deliverables, and rework the schedule.

Ignore this obvious advice at your own risk. Just as the eating provides the proof of the pudding, the outcomes and outputs from a project provide the proofs of success and failure, sometimes in astonishing mixtures!

–Ed–

Soft Skills (Part 4 of 4): Project Management

When it comes to getting any kind of serious IT work done in businesses and organizations, nearly all such efforts fall under some kind of project heading. I’m not talking about routine maintenance, provisioning upgrades, and other ongoing day-to-day efforts. I’m talking about implementing or deploying new software and hardware systems, upgrading or replacing network infrastructures, adding new services or applications, and other efforts that change the IT landscape in some form or fashion, sometimes barely and sometimes in quite revolutionary ways.

If you’re going to work in IT, you will find yourself involved in all kinds of projects throughout your working life. This is what spurs my recommendation that IT professionals consider acquiring and developing a project management skillset. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you want to run a project, but it does mean that you’ll understand much better what’s involved in planning, budgeting, scheduling, reporting, and of course, working on or otherwise contributing to project activities and completion.

There are lots of options for IT professionals to develop project management skills. I’m going to stress one particular approach here in this blog–namely, pursuit and acquisition of the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute  www.pmi.org). The PMP is a pretty highly-regarded credential, and rightly so, because it has been built and maintained based on input and guidance from academia, government, and industry.

There are also lots of great avenues through which to pursue PMP certification with PMP courses available from community colleges, undergraduate colleges and universities, and even in graduate institutions of all kinds. Commercial training companies also offer PMP courses, sometimes in compressed “boot camp” formats, sometimes on lengthier schedules. You can spend as little as $250 to $555 for the examination, and as little as $150 for self-study materials and practice tests to earn the PMP, or as much as $2,000-3,000 for a intensive commercial course designed to prepare practicing professionals to take and pass the PMP exam.

Ultimately, I believe the soft skill known as project management has great value for IT professionals in and of itself. But those IT professionals who take the time, expend the effort, and spend the money necessary to acquire PMP certification may also find that it opens doors to more promotion and new job opportunities than they’ve enjoyed before. Be aware that the PMP qualification process also includes documenting 30 hours of classroom contact training time for project management related activities, and 4,500 hours of project management related work experience. This involves some substantial effort in pulling all this information together and in completing the necessary application forms and such.

But for those inclined to add project management to their arsenal of documented, proven soft skills, the PMP is a great career enhancer.

–Ed–