I.S.P. Value Proposition
Societal Transition CommitteeSaturday, October 19, 2002
Outline
IntroductionBackgroundCurrent I.S.P.Reformulated I.S.P.Possible I.S.P. PackagingNext Steps
Trend Lines
Number of ICT professionals in Canada continues to increase 400,000+ ICT Canadian workers
Number of CIPS members does not increaseNumber of I.S.P. professional members does not increase
Value Proposition
Our value proposition isn’t strong enough to attract new membersIt may not be strong enough to retain current members We have only limited time to find an improved value proposition
Professional Society
CIPS has committed to being a professional societyOur main professional product is the I.S.P.We must find ways to improve the value proposition for the I.S.P.
Certification
It works, … but not for CIPSVendor certification Successful, mainly for those at the
beginning of their career (technology focus)
Vendor independent certification Successful, mainly for those at a
career mid-point (process focus)
Licensing
With I.S.P. licensing, our problem of attracting members would be solvedNo evidence that any Province is even thinking about broad ICT licensingWe cannot look to licensing to get us out of our current predicament
Professional Certification
Mastery of a Body of KnowledgeYears of supervised professional workCode of Ethics, Standards of PracticeProfessional self-development
I.S.P. Certification
Acceptable academic credentialTwo years of professional practiceCode of Ethics, Standards of PracticeProfessional self-development
On the surface, looks good
Body of Knowledge
We have no way to know if applicants have mastered an appropriate Body of KnowledgeWe have not identified even one Body of Knowledge that we deem appropriate for professional ICT workers
Core Body of Knowledge – Australian Computer Society
Computer organization & architectureConceptual modelingDatabase managementData communications & networksDiscrete mathematicsEthics/Social implications/Professional practice
Interpersonal communicationsProgram design & implementationProject management & quality assuranceSecuritySoftware engineering & methodologiesSystems analysis & designSystems software
ICT Body of Knowledge
Core Body of Knowledge ~ first two years of university programSpecialist Bodies of Knowledge ~ second two years of university programWe are very far from requiring demonstrated mastery of a full Body of Knowledge
Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice
We do have a Code of Ethics and Standards of PracticeWe have not been effective in showing the public how to lay a complaintWe maintain no public record of the complaints that have been heard
Professional Self-Development
Must have rolling three year average of at least 300 “points”We don’t keep records, we don’t audit any member claims
Current I.S.P. …
Without a real Body of Knowledge, claim of professionalism is hollowWithout an enforced Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice, claim of professionalism is hollowWithout real self-development, claim of professionalism is hollow
Body of Knowledge
We should accredit against a Core Body of Knowledge and Specialist Bodies of Knowledge (borrow from ACS & BCS)Require: Completion of accredited program, or Examination, or Self-development diary
Successful Professional Practice
At an absolute minimum, we must verify that claimed experience actually happenedIdeally, professional working experience will be under supervision of established ICT professional
Code of Ethics, Standards of Practice
Make it very clear how the general public can lay a charge against a certified memberKeep a public record of the hearings that have been heldConsider an examination to test knowledge of Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice
Professional Self-Development
Require documented PD accomplishments every 3 yearsIf questionable, required PD plan and measure progress against planAccept a wide variety of evidence of PD activity
Possible PD Activities
Seminars attendedCourses takenBooks readMaterial studiedAssignments undertakenReports written
Certifications attainedCoaching performedCourses taughtArticles writtenEvents organizedEtc.
Possible I.S.P. Packaging
Candidate I.S.P. Mastered Body of Knowledge, committed to Code
of Ethics & Standards of Practice, waiting to complete supervised professional practice
I.S.P. Candidate I.S.P., plus two years of supervised
professional practice, plus PD commitment
Senior I.S.P. Qualified for the I.S.P., plus ten years of
professional experience and significant body of professional accomplishments
Open Questions
Will the Candidate I.S.P. appeal to those without the “right” university degree?Will the public commitment to professionalism attract people to the I.S.P.?Will the Senior I.S.P. attract the most accomplished ICT professionals?
What do employers think?
Practical Questions
Will our current members see the new I.S.P. designations as attractive?Will the current I.S.P. holders accept the new I.S.P. requirements?Will our senior members be attracted to the Senior I.S.P. designation?
Answers
Telephone survey Practically limited to 15 – 20 minutes With the right questions, doesn’t need to
be a very large sample
Web survey Appropriate for current members and
current I.S.P. holders Must be no more than 15 – 20 minutes Offer important prize for participating
Next Steps
It depends on whether those working in the field will want our new professional productsIt depends on whether our current members, I.S.P.’s included, find the new professional products attractiveIt depends on industry’s response to our new professional products
Hard Questions
Do we have a chance of being successful with these new products?How difficult a transition will we face in moving to these new products?Where do we find the resources to define, market, and supply our new products?
Thank you