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Greg Neilson
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Novell Steps Forward |
| Why Microsoft should keep a close watch on Novell's recent certification program changes. Plus, Greg has a change of heart about an important compensation issue. |
| by Greg Neilson |
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7/11/2001 -- I've remarked before about the decline of Novell NetWare and, indirectly, NetWare certification. Having said that, I must say I'm really impressed with the recent changes Novell announced for the NetWare 6 CNE and MCNE programs. To me, this shows that Novell really understands the skills network professionals need in today's workplace.
Traditionally, the CNE has always covered significant amounts of technology above and beyond the specific NetWare versions. This originally included PC and Macintosh basics, DOS, networking theory, TCP/IP networking, and network problem solving. In fact, when I originally completed my CNE, I did this as an OS/2 LAN Server expert. Although I already had IBM's OS/2 LAN Server Engineer certification, the CNE gave me a significant background in networking technologies that I hadn't been exposed to.
Contrast this with Microsoft's MCSE program at the time: Before Windows 2000, the MCSE did Network Essentials, which covered networking theory, but never had anything to do with PC hardware. This led many MCSEs to subsequently pursue A+ certification to get a background in PC hardware. As we now know, the Win2K MCSE doesn't even include Network Essentials, and the TCP/IP exam was dropped as well.
With these recent changes, Novell has moved quite significantly toward focusing again on common networking technologies. The updated CNE program for NetWare 6 includes CompTIA's Network+ instead of the previous Network Technologies exam (before, it was an option). It also includes a TCP/IP exam, and a promise held out that the exam content will include directory interoperability with Win2k Active Directory -- we'll have to wait and see about that. Better yet, the new NetWare 6 Master CNE includes the Server+ and IT Project+ certifications from CompTIA. This means that MCNEs will have to demonstrate mastery of server hardware and project management techniques. The addition of project management to the MCNE program is of particular interest to me. It makes a great deal of sense for senior NetWare professionals to have a better understanding of project management, since very likely they will either have to work closely with a project manager or perform the project management tasks themselves. Having these skills as part of the program should demonstrate to employers and clients the value of the MCNE certification.
In my view, NetWare is still a more complex product than Windows 2000 (not that this is always a good thing, by the way), yet most of the Win2K MCSE program covers just Windows 2000 technologies. Microsoft has been happy to copy certification innovations from others in the past, so let's hope that they are watching these Novell developments closely with a view of how they can adapt them to the MCSE in the future.
I've had a change of heart recently. Or perhaps you could say experience has taught me a lesson. What am I talking about, you say? Up until recently I've respectfullly disagreed with Linda Briggs, former editor of Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine, about the concept of providing bonuses and/or promotions for staff completing MCSE certification. Linda had always thought that this was a valid motivational technique for staff, yet I maintained that I would prefer to see staff rewarded for achieving real business results.
Well, now that I'm a manager, things look different than they did from the "other side." There are members of my team who are currently completing certification programs that I am considering giving a raise and/or promoting . They have been performing well and have the skills required. But when they complete their certifications, this will really help justify to my manager and peer managers that these people are suitable for the promotion and/or additional dollars. I can see how some might have the perception that the promotion and/or raise was because of the certification, yet in reality this will probably be just icing on the cake.
Also, from a management theory point of view, I've come to learn via my MBA studies that it is valid to reward the acquisition of new key skills. This is because we can't continually promote technical staff in any organization - there simply isn't enough room for them all. In this case, we need to provide the means for them to expand and feel comfortable in their existing roles. So maybe providing incentive for completing a certification program isn't as silly as I had thought.
The MCP Magazine 2001 salary survey will soon be out; it will be interesting to see exactly how many report getting a raise/bonus for completing their certifications. What do you think - do you think that staff should be rewarded for completion of certification programs? Post your comments below and let me know.
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Greg Neilson, MCSE+Internet, MCNE, PCLP, is a Contributing Editor for Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine and a manager at a large IT services firm in Australia. He's the author of Lotus Domino Administration in a Nutshell (O'Reilly and Associates, ISBN 1-56592-717-6). You can reach him at Attn: Greg.
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More articles by Greg Neilson:
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There are 27  user Comments for “Novell Steps Forward”
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Page 1 of 3
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| 7/20/01: Scott says: |
Novell certification has always been a better method to prepare for a networking-based IT career. As a Master Certified Novell Instructor and a Microsoft Certified Trainer with over 10 years of field-based networking experience and 10 years of classroom experience, the students I see in class that have Novell backgrounds or Novell certifications do much, much better on hardware and networking issues than those with only Microsoft NT4 or Win2K backgrounds. The clients I consult with are the same way, the CNEs who are implementing Win2K professional in a Novell network do far better than those clients trying to implement Win2K in a Win2K or WinNT4 network. Likewise, the Certified Directory Engineer certification with its Practicum examination puts Novell certification way ahead of Microsoft Win2k MCSE because there is no practical exam for a Win2K MCSE to perform. (I also have earned the Win2K MCSE by re-taking all six tests...I didn't want to try the accelerated 70-240 test as that would have done me no good to help students prepare). I've heard the same braindump sites that existed for NT4 are back for Win2K and I'm surprised MS hasn't hired a hacker to shut them down as they do nothing but hurt all certification programs. After taking all 6 new MS tests, it was easy to see, especially on the four hour tests for Designing Active Directory and Desiging Security, that a certification candidate without ALOT of real-world experience would not pass, braindump sites or not. Whether or not Novell has the best technology or certification program is probably more of a religious debate and not needed here. I do know that there is a huge disservice to certification candidates being performed by training center sales people and probably by Microsoft reps. Candidates are being told that if they get the MCSE, they can walk into a 100K a year job. Well, that is quite a falsehood! I possess every Novell certification available (CNE, MCNE, CNI, MCNI, CDE) and Microsoft engineer certification (MCSE-NT4, MCSE-Win2K) and I have 10 years of experience and I'm finding it hard to find enough work to stay constantly busy. I suppose I could have answered the classified ad in the paper recently to perform WinNT to Win2K network and Exchange email upgrades...for $12 per hour. |
| 7/23/01: Paul says: |
There is no point in reinventing the wheel to add generic content to a certification program. It has got to help getting a certification to market quicker if generic content is ignored in favour of a prerequisite certification. Rewarding certification is a good way of rewarding the effort, most of which tends to be outside work time, that goes toward learning the skills that will be required to do the job in the future. The alternative of unrewarding those who do not put in the effort that is realistically part of the job is unlikely to succeed, especialy in a unionised environment |
| 10/12/01: Martin says: |
Looking for a jobs as Master Certified Novell Instructor. Like the american way of teaching and living. I'm going for the highest possible in education. Like to travel and live in holland. I'm speaking english, german and dutch. I like Novell training and working with student in a Novell classroom. |
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