Chapter 2 CASE #3 When Certification Is Justified

Discussion Questions

1.)    How can organizations and vendors change their certification programs to test for skills as well as core knowledge  What issues might this introduce?

A company with a Windows Server network might run ad for a systems integration engineer and require a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer(MCSE) certification . a company that uses Siebel customer relationship management software might require a new hire to ave a certification in the latest version of Siebel.

2.)    What are the primary arguments against certification, and how can certifying bodies change their programs to overcome these shortcomings?

IT workersargued that testable IT knowledge does not necessarily translate into quality IT work. To overcome this shortcomings, SAP has built alliances with some 900 universities around the wglobe to deliver training and certify additional resources and also while there is no universal call for certification examination procedures that answers all needs within the IT progression, certifying bodies are beginning to adapt their programs to better fulfill the evolving needs for certification IT.

3.)    What are the benefits of certification? How might certification programs need to change in the future to better serve the needs of the IT community?

Employers use certification as a hiring gate for entrylevel positions and for jobs that require specific core knowledge. Also, employers use certification as a means of training emplyees nd increasing skill levels within the company. Certification programs need to change in the future to better serve the needs of the IT community like changing IT certification examination. Other organizations are catching on. Sun Microsystem requires the completion of programming or design assignments for some of it’s certification.

Chapter 1 CASE # 3 Is There a Place for Ethics in IT?

Discussion Questions

1.)    Discuss how a CIO might handle Schrage’s sceanarios using the suggested process for ethical decision making presented in this chapter.

The CIO might handle Schrage scenarios usimg this method or way for ethical decision making. First, they should develop a problem statement. It wil help you make better decision. Idntify Alternatives, sometimes you need the help of others to identify several alternatives solutions to the problem. Lastly, Evaluate and Choose an Alternative.

2.)    Discuss the possible short-term losses and long-term gains in implementing ethical solutions for each of Schrage’s scenarios.

Some readers argued that CIOs must consider the company’s long-term needs rather than just the current needs of a specific project. Others argued that engaging in unethical behavior, even for the best of purposes, crosses a line that eventually leads to more serious trangressions. Another reader agreed with Schrage, arguing that ethics has to “take a back seat to budgets and schedules” in a large organization. This reader explained, “At the end of the day, IT is business.”

3.)    Must business choose between good ethics and financial benefits? Explain your answer using Schrage’s scenarios as examples.

Yes, they can choose good ethics instead of financial benefits just like Schrage scenarios… the company palns to outsource its maintenance and support the CRM system once it is develop. There’s a good chance that two-third of the IT staff will be laid-off. In this scenario, you choose which is the best for your company in order to keep it alive. On the other hand, in a certain businees or company to maintain it’s good condition and to gain financial benefits, trade-off must be made to keep it from being ineffective.   

What takes to be an IT Professional?

In today's world there is no doubt that almost all people are depending on a certain machine to do their job and with the big help of a group of IT people... Students can instantly search information that they need for their homework by browsing the World Wide Web. We can also buy and sell products through or via Internet. We can make friends using the Internet social network service and many more other things which make it convenient for us. But behind all these, to be an IT professional is difficult to achieve. We must put in our mind some important details on what takes to be an IT professional. For me, it takes a lot of courage, patience and confidence to be a professional IT. Courage to face whatever hardship you may went through. It's either you may failed or otherwise. But be sure to have guts to try again after you have failed. Patience because, it is not easy to do programs. It is not all the time that luck is in your side but you must endure it if you really want it. Lastly, have this confidence not only in what you are doing but also in yourself.