Early results from SAP Certification 5 survey

10th September, 2010
#sitbru #sitbra
Dennis Howlett Certification 5 C5 SURVEY: EARLY RESULTS

Leo De Araujo - Canada
Martin Gillet - Belgium
Dennis Howlett - Spain
Michael Koch - UK
Jon Reed - US
Certification 5 WHO ARE THE C5?

Promote improvements to SAP Certification
Provide input to SAP Certification
Raise awareness of potential value in SAP Certification
Certification 5 C5 MISSION

Discussion paper developed (4,891 downloads)
Promoted at SAP board level
Input to Certification vision pending
Survey underway c. 400 responses to date
Certification 5 PROGRESS TO DATE

No budget
Collective effort
Achieved using social and collaborative tools
Used Scrum style development process
Marketed guerilla style
Certification 5 C5 DISCUSSION PAPER

Iterative process, not one thing
Insufficient empirical data to support discussion paper
Need for validation (or otherwise) around assumptions
Collect more qualitative data
Certification 5 WHY A SURVEY?

Conducted Late August 2010 > ongoing
Views to date: 2165
Completed: 399
Qualitative responses: 124 (= 31% offering insights)
Uncompleted: 0
Certification 5 SURVEY DATA

Theory that Certification can be meaningful in the market: SUPPORTED
Theory that Certification can be valuable in the market: SUPPORTED
Disconnect between value claimed and value delivered from current Certification: SUPPORTED
Need for improvement/change: SUPPORTED
Certification 5 KEY FINDINGS

Theory that Certification can be meaningful in the market: SUPPORTED

Theory that Certification can be valuable in the market: SUPPORTED

Disconnect between value expected and value delivered from current Certification: SUPPORTED

Need for improvement/change: SUPPORTED

SAP Certification via MCQ is an insult to the disclipine of Computer Science/Information Systems. None of my higher level CompSci classes were passed only by answering multiple choice questions. Higher level computer science classes(including systems analysis) require essay style questions to test knowledge in an objective fashion. The current MCQ certification exams only promotes rote memorization of feature lists and not whether you have the ability to solve a business problem via that solution.
Certification 5 QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT

SAP Certification in my opinion is not going to work because there are several SAP consultants who don't have exposure to software development practices. I mean most of them started working in SAP after attending training programs 10+ years ago. For example, a good number of BW developers would know how to create DSOs/ODSs, Cubes, mapping, transfer rules, loading etc. Most of them probably attended training programs in BW and learnt just these tasks. So yes, they would do very well if you or certification exam asks questions on tcodes, how to create objects, transfer rules etc. They may not have other soft skills(such as analzying data) needed to be successful.

Most of the people I know working in SAP security specialize, and the security certification requires taking over USD 5,000 in courses. That is a lot of money to spend for learning that is not all required for today's jobs in SAP security. My employer won't pay it, that's for sure.

I am a strong opponent of these kinds of certificates. I see NO reason in making ANY kind of certificiation. 25 years of experience just speak for themself. Professional and Master seems to be as useless as all the other ones. I feel a notion of SAP tries to control and sense another money source in the freelancer market here. I will talk my clients into ignoring certificates as long as I could.

Questions are asked very strange. Totally not in line with what's discussed in the training.

The case study at SAP the week before the exam was the most useful aspect of the certification process (rather than the exam), as it involved completing practical project tasks that are typical of the work of a consultant. Certification seems to be considered as background knowledge when looking for a job - similar to having a degree. Experience is what actually counts when applying for jobs.

Certification 5 YOU CAN DO IT TOO
Ignore everybody, do the needful
Use social tools: Twitter, SDN, Mentor webinars (even if not a Mentor)
Be relentless
Trust your team

Dennis Howlett Certification 5 Q&A

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Early results from SAP Certification 5 survey

by Dennis Howlett on Sep 10, 2010

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