GSE Training and Certification Working Group

Meeting on 27^th April 2006

Venue:          BCS, Covent Garden

Attending:    Phil Howard-Knight             Bank of America        

Peter Stevenson                 JPN Chase                              Chairman

Keith Walker                         Allianz Cornhill                       Notes

Neil Price                              TNT

Roger Troughton                 BT Exact

Hugh Suter                           EDS

Malcolm Beattie                   IBM

Alan Whitfield                       RSM

Paul Arnerich

Wilf Voss                               BCS

Apologies:     Simon Hutchings                  Nationwide

David Laird                           RSM

Wilf Voss – BCS

Wilf presented  a brief history of the BCS and it’s role in promoting professional qualifications as part of their commitment to “upskill” the profession. They have a network of 140 agencies worldwide, through which their qualifications are available. They have a depth of experience in developing and delivering testing and can produce test documentation on any scale. They would propose to work in partnership with us rather than offering a BCS product as such.

It’s envisaged that the GSE’s role would be as an independent steering body, with an expert panel operating the accreditation under it’s auspices.

BCS have a good working relationship with IBM and will explore their contactsm to see if any are relevant to us. (On a tangent during Wilf’s presentation, we discussed IBM’s involvement and the difficulty we’re have enlisting it. Phil Howard-Knight will progress this, with assistance from Paul Arnerich. Paul did mention an existing IBM scheme known as “Top Gun” which we would need to avoid duplication of. However, our needs are for IBM’s collaboration in a scheme which is vendor-independent.

RSM-Feedback from 1^st Assessments

Alan Whitfield reported on the first assessments.

There was some discussion of the scoring and pass marks. The model used this time was 15% over the average gaining a distinction and 20% below it yielding a fail. BCS and RSM will work together on developing this model.

Brainstorm

Our aim is for a framework into which all organisations can fit their own modules, with distinction between certification providers and training providers. Following lunch, we brainstormed our further requirements. The output from this (listed below) will be refined by a sub-group.

· Need to determine how many levels we want

· Include zSeries Hardware, Software and associated infrastructure

· Needs to be measurable and practical

· Structured for personal development

· Not a selling point for training providers

· Industry standard

· Global reach

· Needs to test practical (rather than theoretical) knowledge

· Open book examination

· Needs to test experience

· Consider frequency of recertification

o Recertification of new facilities only, or complete re-sit?

o Do we want renewal at all?

· Need to be release-neutral

· CPD points

· Governance (process) – BCS?

· Governance (content) – GSE?

· Framework which allows multiple vendors to provide certification

GSE National Conference

We’ve offered 3 sessions for the conference (31^st Oct – 1^st Nov). Ideas for 2 of these were:

· An update on activity so far, in an open discussion format

· Possible session with BCS and RSM

This might be preceded by a questionnaire to solicit member companies’ opinions.