| Should MQSeries.net start certification programs in various MQ family products? |
| Yes |
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61% |
[ 21 ] |
| No |
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29% |
[ 10 ] |
| Can't Say |
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8% |
[ 3 ] |
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| Total Votes : 34 |
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| Andy |
 Posted: Wed May 28, 2003 9:35 pm Post subject: MqSeries.net Certified Solution Expert |
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Centurion
Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 122
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How about starting MQSeries.net Certifications in various MQ family products?
Good for popularity of site and can start charge for it later to generate money 
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 Andy |
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| bduncan |
| Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 9:09 am Post subject: |
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Padawan
Joined: 11 Apr 2001
Posts: 1554
Location: Silicon Valley
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It's an interesting thought, but how would we distinguish, i.e, make people think it is worthwhile, an MQSeries.net certification from the certifications currently offered by IBM?
Are you proposing making tests whose focus is different from the current IBM tests?
I would definitely like to hear other people's input on this...
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Brandon Duncan
IBM Certified MQSeries Specialist
MQSeries.net forum moderator |
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| jefflowrey |
| Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 9:43 am Post subject: |
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Grand Poobah
Joined: 16 Oct 2002
Posts: 19981
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Well, I think that one simple (although at the same time a lot more work) way to distinguish it would be to make an MQSeries certification exam include something more like a 'practical'.
That is, rather than just knowing the answers to questions, you have to show that you can DO something as well.
This does, however, make it much much harder to administer the exam remotely in a way that precludes cheating - and I don't think anyone expects Brandon to be able to administer exams in person.
Or do the IBM exams already include something like this? |
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| Trinity |
| Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 9:52 am Post subject: Trial Certifications |
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Newbie
Joined: 05 May 2003
Posts: 9
Location: Michigan
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Maybe something like a trial certification for the REAL IBM certification may help. I am sure most of us agree that there are no practice tests for anyone willing to appear for an MQ Certification Exam.
May it would be wise to start like a trial certification and issue certificates on that basis. Example, something like BrainBench....free tests, free practice tests, etc.
Suggestions/ideas?
Cheers
 Trinity |
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| Andy |
| Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 8:30 pm Post subject: |
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Centurion
Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 122
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Yeah, Trinity made a good point.
BrainBench's pattern is good to follow. It could be online test which people can take from anywhere. No need to go to particular registered cetres. People who pass the test will get the certification by post after payin X amount of money.
I was serching for WebSphere MQ Workflow ceritification test but its not there. They only have WebSphere MQ Series for which they have started charging 49$. Anyway, certification fee is a matter which comes later.
So there is only IBM who has got these different MQ family products certifications. The focus of test could be same as IBM. MQSeries.net is a brand on its own, and we are not competing with IBM certification. Also, people should have options to get certified other then only IBM.
As JeffLowrey said, Administration could be challenge for Brandon, but I guess his team to maintain this site must also be growing
Thanks
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Andy
Last edited by Andy on Fri May 30, 2003 12:05 am; edited 1 time in total |
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| oz1ccg |
| Posted: Thu May 29, 2003 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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Yatiri
Joined: 10 Feb 2002
Posts: 628
Location: Denmark
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Yes and no.
why ?
Yes, to generate more traffic and and maybee generate income to MQSeries.net. I've used the free sample tests before takeing the real stuff, and I personnaly would like more sample tests. Allso more than just one, there is today.
No, we might get problems when compeeting with Big Blue, I know it's a huge challange to create, validate and not to forget maintain these certification tests. Another problem area might be Copyright struggle, because the questions might (should) be similar to the ones in the official tests. And if the questions in the sample is not like the real once, "customer" might be disapointed, and this might cause badwill.
A simple question is: How can we assure no cheeting ? One of the challanges in IBM' tests is no docs. This means that our tests should be very time limited so there are no time for ploving the manuals.
How can we get it bullet proof, so the person taking the test don't have his mentor sitting next to him ? We can't.
So there are a lot of Pros and Cons to this topic.
Just my $0.02 
_________________
Regards, Jørgen
Home of BlockIP2, the last free MQ Security exit ver. 3.00
Cert. on WMQ, WBIMB, SWIFT. |
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| bduncan |
| Posted: Fri May 30, 2003 7:44 am Post subject: |
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Padawan
Joined: 11 Apr 2001
Posts: 1554
Location: Silicon Valley
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I agree in that if I were to make a certification test, I'd want it administered in a proxy environment (like through Prometric) because otherwise there is no way to ensure that the guy is browsing the manuals, sitting with a guru, etc...
Another possible approach, the one Sun has taken for their Java certification is to have a project. Basically we'd require the person to submit an MQ application following a set of guidelines we provide, written in their language of choice. We then score the test based on various criteria...
And by keeping a database of submitted applications we can check for plagirism.
And yes, I would worry about competing with Big Blue and getting slapped with some copyright infringement. But apparently brain bench has figured a way around this since they are offering their own MQ test.
But Jeff has a good point that the test should show the person can actually do something with MQSeries rather than proving that they have read the manuals.
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Brandon Duncan
IBM Certified MQSeries Specialist
MQSeries.net forum moderator |
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| bower5932 |
| Posted: Fri May 30, 2003 10:12 am Post subject: |
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Jedi Knight
Joined: 27 Aug 2001
Posts: 3023
Location: Dallas, TX, USA
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I'll give my opinion on this. As far as a simple test is concerned, I feel like we (MQ community) already have it with the certification tests that exists today (ie, 095/294, 096/296, 097). As far as preparing for these, I found that 095/294 and 097 could be prepared for by "reading the book". However, I always felt that 096/296 required you to have some practical experience in order to pass them. As far as their value (on a resume) is concerned, I feel like this will always depend on who is doing the hiring. In my group, they (management) want us to have them. However, sister groups in my company don't have any pressure to get them.
If you wanted something more strenuous (ie, a project), there might be some merit in this. It could be something that could encompass all three current certifications and show that you had some "real world" ability.
As far as the sample tests are concerned, IBM has made a deliberate effort to beef things up in this area. I believe that the old sample test was about 30 questions and not real reflective of the actual exam. The new sample tests are the same number of questions and they are spread across the same test areas. I also know that IBM will periodically run specials where you can take and pass the sample so that you can get a certificate to take a free exam. |
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| bduncan |
| Posted: Fri May 30, 2003 10:33 am Post subject: |
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Padawan
Joined: 11 Apr 2001
Posts: 1554
Location: Silicon Valley
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Yeah, I suppose in the end, regardless of how well a test does at gauging someone's skill level in a particular area, it comes down to whether or not employers see it as a value for their current employees to have and as a deciding factor when hiring new employees. Otherwise why take the test? I suppose you could give yourself a pat on the back, but in the end, you know how good you are at something whether or not you have a piece of paper that says so.
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Brandon Duncan
IBM Certified MQSeries Specialist
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| Andy |
| Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2003 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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Centurion
Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 122
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One thing is sure, all feel that there should be more sample tests if somebody wants to take IBM test.
There are Certification tests offered by many in many other technologies, but for IBM MQ products, its only IBM who has got the cerifications 
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Andy |
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| bduncan |
| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2003 8:59 am Post subject: |
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Padawan
Joined: 11 Apr 2001
Posts: 1554
Location: Silicon Valley
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Well, let's say as a service to the MQ community, we decided to make some sample tests to help people prepare. Do you think there would be enough interest such that if I asked people to submit sample question/answers that I would actually get enough folks to respond so that I could put together a sample test with say 50 questions?
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Brandon Duncan
IBM Certified MQSeries Specialist
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| vennela |
| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2003 10:00 am Post subject: |
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Jedi Knight
Joined: 11 Aug 2002
Posts: 4055
Location: Hyderabad, India
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I think you would have a lot of support in this regard. Personally, I am looking for ways of contributing to this site as a pay back to what I get here.
What about Websphere MQ Workflow |
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| Ratan |
| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2003 10:38 am Post subject: |
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Grand Master
Joined: 18 Jul 2002
Posts: 1245
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Brandon, If your only constraint is the "who will...." factor, I am all in to do whatever is needed. But, I can only be helpfull for MQ Workflow Stuff.
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-Ratan |
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| Andy |
| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2003 1:23 am Post subject: |
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Centurion
Joined: 14 May 2003
Posts: 122
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Looking at the poll result and responses, what do you think Brandon?
Thanks
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Andy |
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| bduncan |
| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2003 12:00 pm Post subject: |
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Padawan
Joined: 11 Apr 2001
Posts: 1554
Location: Silicon Valley
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Well, I need to sit down and look at the current offering of MQ-related certifications from IBM and see where we might best serve the community if we were to offer a test of our own.
I'm also curious as to everyone's thoughts about the format. Assuming for a moment that we could get the test administered in a secure environment, i.e., we don't have to worry about cheating, what type of test would best measure someone's skills when it comes to MQ?
Multiple choice?
Short answer?
Project (an actual application) ?
etc...
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Brandon Duncan
IBM Certified MQSeries Specialist
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