Re: certification

[Ron Hall <thorn@cc.mcgill.ca>]

> 
> Even if I agreed, at the moment I'll take any Merit Badge that someone
> presented.  If we dither until we create the perfect set, we're right back
> where we started.

	Gee, let me remember when I was a scout, hmmmmm
	there were certainly a number of different merit badges
	available, not everyone got every one of them. Even the
	Queen Scout (Canadian/British equiv of Eagle scout) got them
	all, just enough (though it certainly seemed like at lot) in
	each larger discipline to warrant overall competemcy in a larger
	context.

	The point is programming is not for all SAs, system architecture
	is not for all SAs. Some SAs will never get the chance in their 
	professional carreers to write in TCL, some may never know the
	joys of sitting at a helpdesk or even giving a seminar. All are
	potentially useful skills to an SA. Personally I've never had the
	chance to play with routers, there has always been network
	analysts that have done it. Am I less of a SA for it? On some
	levels yes or others no.

	IMHO I would perceive a structure of merit badges with a larger
	structure around it i.e networking, programming, etc. WIth various
	merit badges in each context. The funny thing about SA is that
	this structure just grows and grows. Nobody expects a SA to do
	all of these things, but it would sure be nice if they did.

	SAs solve problems. Truly if I had to distill it down to its
	purest essence, that would be it. System problems, user problems,
	policy problems....just problems. SOme require hard skills and
	some require soft skills. SOme just require that you be there.
	Sounds odd, but it's true how many of you have been called with
	a problem that suddenly disappears when you walk into the room?
	Your presence exorcises what "badness" that was there?

	I've rambled on enough. Many merit badges a good thing, gives 
	people room to expand, consolidate and learn. The even better
	thing (yuch what a construct) is that it affords the opportunity
	for more people to participate in the development of such a 
	program. And that IS a good thing.

	
Ron Hall  Unix System Analyst    <thorn@cc.mcgill.ca>    +1 514 398 3718

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