Certifications - Boon or bane - The value of professional development programs

[venkat]

I really wonder the value for the certifications. All these are professional development programs and I dont think marks should be the only criteria for these courses. After all in multiple choice it is difficult to judge answer correctly and hence based on that one cannot be failed and that too with a minimum of 75%. I feel is that the professional certifications should be awarded and confirmation to be given only after two years.

[Marc]

Why not add a Poll to this thread, venkat? Get some 'data'!

[Bill Pflanz]

My own rule of thumb is that it takes between 3-5 years to really understand and start making reasonable improvements to a system. It is possible to use the quality tools and concepts from the beginning but it will take time to become expert. One of the problems with Six Sigma is that it certifies black belts after taking some classes and then doing two projects usually within the first six months. That is not enough to show any true qualifications but just the ability to finish a project.

Bill Pflanz

[Marc]

My estimation was (?) 1 to 2 years, but as I get older I do know that experience (time) is a significant factor. Or maybe I'm just getting old and 'down grading' youth and their accompanying 'mistakes'... Maybe we both are.

As to experience accounting for something, I've been involved with ISO 9001 (well, the ISO 900x series) since 1991. I 'run' a web site that focuses on ISO 9001 and am here every day reading what's going on. Yet I'm not technically qualified to be an ISO 9001:2000 auditor (IRCA) in the next 2 months because I have to get in some audits.

My rule of thumb is:

1. The person has a certification so I know that person can take a 'test'.
vs.
2. The person has experience and evidence of 'achivement'.
vs.
3. The person has a certification so I know that person can take a 'test' AND The person has experience and evidence of 'achivement'.

Now - Which do I really want? If I'm deciding, in order it's 2, 3, 1.

[Graeme]

My only experience is with certification programs from ASQ -- but that experience is from being certified and from developing certification exams. Other organizations may do things differently.

In order to sit for an ASQ certification exam, the candidate first has to have relevant hands-on experience, usually 3 to 5 years. (But I think the CSSBB may be different, possibly because of licensing arrangements.)

Yes, the examinations are multiple-choice. They are not "easy" but they are not intended to be overly difficult for a qualified candidate. At ASQ, the questions are developed by volunteer subject matter experts who already have the certification. Every question and its one correct answer must be traceable to a specific part of the body of knowledge and to a specific reference listed with the BOK. (All availabe on the web site.) (Wherever possible, there should also be a somewhat rational basis for the "wrong" choices as well. Common math or logic errors, for example.) Before a candidate sees a question on an exam, that question will have been evaluated 2 or 3 times by 20 to 40 people, and the whole exam evaluated at least once by 20 or more people. There are methods for statistical evaluation of exams to determine if differences from one cycle to the next are because of changes in the exam or the applicant pool. Also, the "passing" level is determined by having it evaluated by another team of subject matter experts who are certified but have not participated in exam development.

That said, I agree with Marc that simply passing an exam cannot be a substitute for experience. The experience is essential; the certification provides professional peer group validation of that and the associated knowledge.

Certifications have value to the individual and to an organization. On an individual level, my reason for each of the ASQ certifications I have was personal validation of the knowledge and skills I feel I have developed. They have not been a criterion in any position I have held since, but they may have added some benefit to the final selection. I rely on my demonstrated experience, and offer the certifications as one of several references.

An organization may see value in a certification for the same reason - documented validation of knowledge and experience. But they should not rely on that alone. Documented successful experience is also essential.