Re: [NOVICE] PostgreSQL Training - Mailing list pgsql-general

On Fri, 2003-12-12 at 02:04, Keith C. Perry wrote:

> >
> > Agreed.  However-- there is a push in the IT world (much resisted here)
> > to try to make sysadmin/DBA positions more of a technician-oriented
> > rather than academic oriented.  The idea here is that it reduces IT
> > costs (perhaps, though, at the expense of returns).
>
> I think it just the opposite- or perhaps better said, its starting to chance.  I
> think many companies have learned that a piece of paper is just that- especially
> in the case of certs.  This is not to say that there are exceptions but lets
> face it, it really comes down to what a person has actually done.  The change
> I'm seeing is that the decision making folks are more often asking "what have
> you done and how can we confirm" instead of "what are you certified/degreed in
> and can we see the paper"
>

I still think that there is a movement in many businesses to see the
role of DBA, sysadmin, etc. as that of a glorified technician rather
than a really serious professional.  Certifications are a part of it,
but it is a broader pattern.  This is especially true of the market of
mid-size businesses.  The larger businesses tend to have the lower ranks
manned by glorified techs, while the upper ranks are managed by the more
academic types.

I presume that your experience is different, and I hope you are right.
I personally thing that databases are so important to a business that
they should really look at doing it right.


>
> The beauty of PostgreSQL, Linux, Apache et al, is that there is no singular
> concept of "should".  Its a worldwide community and there are going to be many
> paths to a successful marketing campaign.  As such the only "should" criteria to
> me is that we SHOULD respect all methods equally.
>
OK.  I misspoke.  It is easy to think of a community as a monolithic
entity...  Perhaps more appropriate would have been:

This is why moving toward eventual training documents and possibly
eventual certifications is important for the PostgreSQL community.


>
> Now thats a very important point and something to consider- would certifcation
> help advocate PG and thus lead to an increase in market share.  If you look at
> the Red Hat example that Tom cited I think its unquestionably yes.  Though I
> do not use personally use Red Hat, I do have to say even before they offered
> certification they had at least achieved enough momentum to have people
> consider Linux.  Their achievements along with some others have helped OSS
> become more accepted.
>
It took nearly 5 years for RedHat to get to the point where they were
offering the certification (as a major entity).  There is NO way we can
move this fast even if we all try, provided we want to do it right.

> That situtation is a little different though since Linux comes is various
> distributions.  Eventually people with get that Linux = Red Hat is NOT true.
> Heck, IBM is probably the best at promoting Linux these days in the mainstream.
>  With PostgreSQL, we're just one "disto" so once the ball really gets rolling,
> its going to pick up speed quickly.

Actually my idea is to launch something more like the Linux
Documentation Project but with more structure.  Eventually, major
parties involved may be brought together and help develop full-featured
curriculums, certify third-party certs as complying with the features
and/or developing their own certification.  This would be a long-term
project and would not lead to instant certifications, curriculums, etc.

Best Wishes,
Chris Travers