[Sigia-l] What happened to the good IAs

[Brett Taylor]

I agree, but it seem this discussion grew out of someone being
frustrated by the quality of candidates they were getting and thinks a
certification will solve that. 

Certification will not solve that problem you will still get candidates
that really don't have the experience and I've been around enough to
know that because one has a certification, doesn't make them good.

To me what makes a true senior person is one who has been around for a
while, not one who graduated two years ago so when a candidate only has
a couple years experience, you throw the resume away and move on.

I've posted for senior positions and get people who send me resumes who
haven't even left school yet, I ignore the resume and move on; yes
frustrating that someone can't even read the job description, but maybe
we need to make sure our job descriptions really express who we are
looking for not just lists of tasks. 


brett taylor + R O U N D A R C H + bus 312.529.2502 + mob 773.844.5233 +
web www.roundarch.com


-----Original Message-----
From: sigia-l-bounces at asis.org [mailto:sigia-l-bounces at asis.org] On
Behalf Of Karl Fast
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 8:41 AM
To: SIGIA-L
Subject: Re: [Sigia-l] What happened to the good IAs

> > Certification is a complicated issue.
> 
> Why?

There are good reasons both for and against certification. For many
professions, some form of certification has been an essential part of
their survival and growth. For others, it has been a hindrance,
introducing barriers where none are needed, or introducing them too
soon. It's not a simple "yes" or "no" question.

Many professions, perhaps most, eventually introduce some requisite and
formalized certification, education, or licensing (so I'm using
"certification" in broad-ish way). Examples range from cab drivers and
electricians to therapists, clergy, accountants, doctors, lawyers, and
physical architects. Sometimes the drive for certification is mandated
by the state, other times it comes from within the profession itself.

Some reasons for having certification include setting minimum
educational standards, legitimizing the practice, public safety,
accountability, and obtaining special legal status and/or protections
from the state. 

I'm not arguming that IA requires certification, now or ever. There are
good reasons not to do it, especially at this stage.

I am merely pointing out that:

  (a) many professions have some form of certification,
  (b) there are good reasons to do it,
  (c) professions often benefit from it, in the long run

So, I think IA would be foolish to permanently ignore this; to simply
dismiss it with a curt "No, not for us, not now and not ever." 

Certification is too complicated for that. It demands more than a simple
"yes" or "no" answer. It should be explored, debated, and examined more
thoroughly before any decision is made, either for or against.

It probably isn't necessary for IA today, or even five or ten years from
now. But that doesn't mean certification is either simple or not
applicable to IA. It is a complicated issue and may, at some point,
years from now, be critical to our evolution. Or it may not.

I just don't think we should label it a simple issue, utter a quick
"no," and trudge on our merry way. 


--
Karl Fast
http://www.livingskies.com/

------------
IA Summit 2008: "Experiencing Information" 
April 10-14, 2008, Miami, Florida

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