The Development of Simulations for Certification of Competence of IT Consultants

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The Development of Simulations for Certification
of Competence of IT Consultants

• Deborah E. Rupp
• - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• George C. Thornton III
• - Colorado State University

SIOP 2003, Orlando
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University Certification for Education Consulting
Services

• External certification Managed by Colorado State,
  sponsored by Sun Microsystems

Sun Microsystems
Sun Educational Services
Education Consulting Services
(Consultants, in the field, providing
organizations assistance selecting, training and
organizing their IT staff)
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Why an external certification program?

• Consultants work independently
• Lack of developmental opportunities
• Credentialing very important to IT industry
• Since all consultants Sun Employees, external
  certification needed
• Universities respected world wide

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6-Month Certification Program
nominations
orientation
PROFICIENCIES ASSESSED Knowledge of
services Customer focus Planning
organizing Communication influence People
development Strategic business perspective Relatio
nship building
knowledge tests
portfolio

• assessment event
• leaderless group discussion
• client interview simulation
• presentation of credentials

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Special Considerations

• Diverse assessor panel required
• Field representative
• HQ representative
• Geo/cross-cultural expert
• Service area expert
• Psychologists
• External panelists (since external certification)
• Simulations had to be
• portable
• Realistic yet standardized yet geographically
  appropriate

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Special Considerations

• Technical knowledge must be demonstrated prior to
  participating in the simulation-therefore the
  simulation content could be quite technical
• A level of competence was being certified,
  therefore simulations could not be too easy or
  difficult
• Realism called into question when consultants
  from different geos participated in the group
  discussion together
• Due to assessment practicalities, English
  required, yet most business conducted within Geo
  using language of that region.

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Lessons Learned

• As with most development program, continued
  buy-in (especially during tough economic times)
  always a challenge.
• Essential to integrate the certification process
  into existing policies prior to its
  implementation (even pilot) to ensure its value
  to the organization

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Lessons Learned

• High level of fidelity required
• Toolkits and guidelines very useful