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