Microsoft MCAP and The Open Group Architect Certification compared:

Last week the ICS launched their IT architects network. This seems like a great idea and we should all support. I spoke alongside James De Reeve from The Open Group about the topic of Architect Certification. I’ve documented the talk and questions below. If you are new to this area you should check out the excellent summary on the Microsoft website. If you are like me, then you’ll probably want to jump to the key differences between the two at the tail of this post.

Here is a summary of both our talks:

Microsoft - Bill O'Brien (Me)

• Industry wants certification

so they can identify those with Architectural skills

Hire them, or contract them on their projects with a certain sense of security that they can do what they claim to do.

• Individuals and System Integrators want a certification because:

 Allows those with Architectural skills to validate and differentiate their capabilities with a publicly recognised qualification

• Microsoft is driving it because:

We want to be seen as thought leader among Architects

We believe it’s good for the IT industry and the professionals in it.

• The certification is for a highly experienced group. We expect to certify approx 3000 Architects over 6 years
• The Competencies and Common Characteristics we expect to test are based on a 2 years of research into the skillset of practising Architects. They are well documented here.
• The process involves application, acceptance onto the program, working with a mentor and finally a certification review/exam. Crucially this is done by peer certified architects.
• The candidates will:

be working in IT for 10 years

be an Architect for at least 3

can demonstrate the competencies as required.

• Candidates can sign up online, or be referred by existing certified arch’s. This process will open in the first half of next year.

The Open Group - James DeReeve

• Exists to foster information flow via a set of common standards. (I was interested to learn that they own the Unix trademark)
• They are addressing the same business/industry demand as us.
• HP proposed the certification directly to the Open Group. (Its interesting that HP CTO Tony Redmond is quoted, acclaiming both qualifications)
• IBM customers often turn down offers of free Architecture consulting as it’s viewed as IBM technology only. They are keen to drive a broader industry recognised certification.
• They evaluate an 'experience profile' which is akin to the artefacts that we require.
• Open are limiting their submission to 55 pages. I believe that Microsoft's limit will be lower than this.
• Their is two paths to entry, direct and in-direct. Direct is where The Open Group runs a board directly. Indirect is where third parties certify you.
• In the future, they envisage two levels, level 1 and level 2. The current certification will be grandfathered into level 2, essentially they will have a lower level qualification (level 1) at some stage. [Microsoft is also planning a training path from Senior Engineer into Architect that may involve a more basic certification]
• The Open Group is explicitly courting local partners, that’s why they were speaking at ICS in Ireland. They see phenomenal demand in India and China that they just cannot meet (Open group has 45 full time employees) so they require partners

Audience Questions

There were some great questions. I captured the following:

Q) This process represents a huge investment of time from individuals and their employers.

What’s the payback?

A) Both Open and Microsoft stressed that unless we promote the professional status and skills of Architects then we are in danger of damaging the reputation IT architects have built up. In addition the payback for the industry of a recognised standard is great.

Q) Specifically how much more money would I be able to earn!

A) No hard numbers but given the calibre of the qualification we speculate that it will be highly advantageous to have it.

Q) What is the renewal period for re-certification?

A) Open is 3 years, Microsoft is the same

Q) Will any material I submit or topics I discuss be under NDA?

A) Open - Yes, Microsoft - Yes. I also pointed out that if you have the worlds most amazing invention then don’t use it as the subject for your board as you will invalidate any future patent process, as well as it being just a silly thing to do.

Q) How many people will get this certification?

A) Microsoft, approx 3000. [My notes from the Open answer say 100k people but I think I made a typo!]

Q) The Open group refers to 'Formal Methods' what does that mean?

A) This is not Z and predicate calculus. Rather it refers to any broadly recognised SDL C methodology.

Q) How did both organisations bootstrap their initial pool of certified architects?

A) Open worked with partners such as IBM and HP as well as its member base to select appropriate candidates. Microsoft did the same (including HP, Infosys, CapGemini) as well as sourcing lead Architects internally.

Q) Will Microsoft become a third party provider for Open groups certification!

A) Who knows :-)

Key Differences between the two

• Microsoft is more expensive, $10,000 versus $2000 approx for The Open Group.
• Microsoft assigns a mentor to each candidate. This is a crucial difference and explains the cost differential. The Open group explicitly stated that they are not training Architects; rather they are affirming they have the skills they claim to have. The Microsoft Mentor is already certified and will work with candidates to help them prepare.
•  The Open Group has a community element. So an Architect can get credit (towards recertification) by engaging in community related activities e.g. sitting on a public certification review board would count. This is a nice idea.
•  Open allows third parties to certify under the Open banner. This is useful where an Organisation may want to enrich the process and make it Open Group + org. specific stuff. [I believe this could have the potential to weaken the qualification too]
• Open had a really nice CD with all the documents and whitepapers. We need some of them for MCAP !

Some myths dispelled

I had thought that the Open Group would allow people with as little as 3 years IT experience pursue the certification. This is not the case; they expect you to have been a practicing Architect for 3 years. (The expectation being that it takes you about 10 get there)

The Open Group was first - Microsoft was first. Who cares! Microsoft has about 50 people already certified, The Open Group will hold its first board in Houston in this week I believe.

Microsoft has sub-categorised into Solutions Architect and Infrastructure Architect. Open hasn't. James pointed out that both types can suceed in thier certification. They examine a core set of skills and the solutions or infrastructure elememtns build on top of this as specialisations.

If you are interested in pursuing certification in Ireland then please contact me and let me know.