A tip o' the hat to all authors and presenters. However writing a book makes no one an expert on anything. There are Oracle books containing fabulous stories of what happens when a tablespace is put in backup mode, and while quite entertaining they do not further a correct understanding of Oracle. Authors take the time to put what they believe to be true on paper. It's often what they have been told, not what they have learned on their own. Richard Niemiec's sp? tuning books have been trashed recently because they tout buffer hit ratios; however there was a consensus in the Oracle community that these were important. It took Cary Millsap's paper and a new tuning paradigm introduced by Gaja Vaidyanatha, Kirtikumar Deshpande, and John Kostelac Jr. to direct us to something more useful. Personally, I was using wait events before Gaja's book, but I was also trying to keep the hit ratio's high as a part of the "consensus". If I had written a book before seeing Cary's paper! ! , it would have touted hit ratios. I don't believe "Oracle 101 Performance Tuning" is a perfect book; it doesn't properly address data collection needs.
Why would authorship and presentations be worth more than an OCP? The OCP says that you have achieved a standard. One can debate whether that standard has any meaning. There is no standard at all for authors/presenters. It does seem however that many OCP holders know far less than their certificate would indicate, and some authors are more expert than their books convey. A good author of Oracle tomes and presentations needs a clearer understanding of the subject matter than an OCP. Good authors hold themselves to higher standards than needed to be called an OCP. I just want to point out that not all authors are good authors, and that there are OCP holders who have not written books that are as if not more knowlegeable than most authors. There are people who have done neither who know as much if not more than both. The OCM was introduced for two reasons. Oracle is in business to make money and wanted another revenue stream, and the standards one must meet to become an OCP were being questioned. Unfortunately at last years IOUG-A conference the six people who were given their OCM's were touted as the six most knowledgeable Oracle experts in th world. The awardees did not include Gaja, nor Kirti, nor Anjo Kolk, nor Steve Adams, nor Jonathan Lewis, nor Guy Harrison, nor Larry Elkins... Indeed only one person on the awarded the OCM would I have placed in any top six list, and that's Paul Dorsey who is extremely knowlegeable concerning Oracle's development tools. There were some awardees I know nothing about. Despite this over-the-top rollout, the OCM under proper care could become a certification with real meaning, by that I mean more important than being an author or a presenter Ian MacGregor Stanford Linear Acclerator Center [EMAIL PROTECTED] -----Original Message----- Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 11:17 AM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L Rachel has really baiting me on this one, as she is well aware of my position on certifications, especially Oracle's. I watched some of this thread start and laughed. Vendor-sponsored certifications are no more valuable to the marketplace than the software they claim is 100% bug free. This is especially true when the vendor "pushes" the certification out to the market for next to nothing and then complains that the industry sees no value in it because SOOOOOO many people have it. Who's to blame for that. Why do you think Microsoft reduced the number of organizations that offer MCS* certifications? There are TOOOO MANY. Our company offered MCS* certifications, including a complete training program, as required and it brought NO VALUE. Look at companies like Novell, etc. Originally, Novel's certifications, CNA, CNE, & CNAE, were offered at a high cost and only the few and proud had obtained it. The original certification exams, CSP, CCP, etc. that were offered by third-party institutes have also lost their value as anyone with a book and time can pass them. It's too bad because certifications DID mean something in the 1980s and early 1990s. Oracle is crying in its own spoiled milk on this one. They caused the problem and now they are trying to fix it by ramming a new program down our throats. Think about it folks. You have to pay an additional $ 2000 for what? The only reason people will take this ridiculous path is to achieve a higher level in the Oracle Partner Program. No More. No less. If you really think that having an OCM or OCP or other certification is going to make the difference in you getting a job, you have REAL problems. As far as Rachel substituting books and presentations for certifications, I agree with her. As a personal friend of hers ( I hope still after this long email), I also do not have my certification because my experience shows: 25+ presentations around the world, recognized industry expert, and 17+ years doing the job. OK. I'm off the soap box. Get off the certification box now before it collapses and Oracle builds another one. You know: If Oracle would concentrate on building better quality software with the time spent on this stupid certification program, all of us would be better off! Thank You Stephen P. Karniotis Product Architect Compuware Corporation Direct: (248) 865-4350 Mobile: (248) 408-2918 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: www.compuware.com -----Original Message----- Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 12:19 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L Subject: Re: the ora certified masters cert, yet again Rachel, So, you substitute books and presentations in place of the OCP? This sounds like we are in agreement in principle... <;) jack --- Rachel Carmichael <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > okay, I realize this won't work for everyone on this > list but... > > I hand them my resume. the third page of which is > FILLED with lists of > presentations I have given, awards I have gotten for > presentations I > have given and books I have written > > if they STILL want me to have OCP on my resume after > that, I don't want > to work there anyway > > --- Jack Silvey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > The question is, are you going to allow your > > clearminded moral stance and total disdain for a > > thinly veiled DBA tax to interfere with your > pursuit > > of filth lucre? *I* ain't! > > > > ;) > > > > It is just another hoop to jump through so that a > > hring manager can say "that is an impressive hoop > you > > jumped through" and you can respond "yes, and I > can > > jump through some hoops for you too" and allow > them to > > say "here is an outrageous sum of money to work on > our > > computers." > > > > I love this job. > > > > jack silvey > > ocp 7.3, 8.0, 8i, 9i > > > > > > --- Don Granaman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > They aren't - unless it exceeds a non-trivial > > > percentage (6%? 7%? more? I > > > can't remember now...) of their income and is > > > "required" (?). > > > > > > This new requirement for OCP is just another in > a > > > long line of > > > propaganda/baloney from Oracle in its > never-ending > > > attempts to suck up every > > > buck it possibly can. [Oracle likes $$$$$. HR > > > likes mindless checklist > > > items. It is a match made in heaven.] I > thought > > > that the "need practically > > > any two ILT classes, no matter how irrelevant" > 9i > > > OCM was going to be the > > > limit of extending the the greedy grab for OCP > bucks > > > - for 9i at least. > > > This isn't about certification anymore (as if it > > > ever was), its about > > > revenue. > > > > > > Since this "new requirement" (for the moment at > > > least) doesn't apply to > > > upgrade from an 8i certification, does anyone > know > > > if there is (or soon will > > > be) a new constraint/surprise/ambush limiting > that > > > to 8i OCP obtained prior > > > to, oh say, June 15, 2002? September 2002? > > > > > > Don Granaman > > > [OraSaurus - with more disdain than ever for the > > > evil vampire Larry's OCP > > > DBA tax] > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > > To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" > > > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Sent: Friday, June 21, 2002 12:23 AM > > > > > > > > > > I thought employees were not allowed to write > > > things off as business > > > > expenses... > > > > > > > > Confusedly yours, > > > > Patrice Boivin > > > > Systems Analyst (Oracle Certified DBA) > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 10:13 PM > > > > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L > > > > Subject: RE: the ora certified masters cert, > yet > > > again > > > > > > > > Are you trying to promote it? > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > > Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 6:50 PM > > > > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L > > > > > > > > > > > > I am seriously considering pursuing one, since > it > > > can > > > > be sold to hiring managers as a sign of > > > professional > > > > competence. > > > > > > > > Look at it from a cost/benefit ratio > standpoint. > > > Will > > > > someone with this cerifification make $2000 > more > > > over > > > > her professional life than she would without? > > > > > > > > So it takes a round trip ticket and three days > of > > > > vacation. Get the company to pay for it or > write > > > it > > > > off as a business expense. > > > > > > > > Good investment, easy money, instant > credibility > > > to > > > > many hiring managers. > > > > > > > > jack silvey > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 19 Jun 2002 at 4:38, Ron Rogers wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Date sent: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 04:38:18 > -0800 > > > > > To: Multiple recipients of list > > > > > ORACLE-L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > > > > > It seems that our list has made mention in > > > this > > > > > report from > > > > > > Searchdatabase.com. And Oracle is trying > to > > > > > justify the $2000 expence. > > > > > > If I read this correct the $2000 is for 9i > > > OCP. > > > > > > ======= > > > > > > LEAD STORY > > > > > > > > > > > > ORACLE FUELS CERTIFICATION CONTROVERSY | > > > > > SearchDatabase > > > > > > Oracle has a new requirement for its > potential > > > > > certified > > > > > > professionals, and the price tag is about > > > $2,000. > > > > > Many DBAs aren't > > > > > > happy about the new policy but Oracle says > the > > > > > class makes their > > > > > > certification more valuable than ever. > Read > > > the > > > > > details of the new > > > > > > mandate, and what DBAs and industry > experts > > > have > > > > > to say about it. > > > > > > > > > > > > For the full details, click: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.searchdatabase.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid13_gci833782,00.ht > > > > ml > > > > > > > > > > ... > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: > > > > > http://www.orafaq.com > > > > > -- > > > > > Author: Eric D. Pierce > > > > > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) > 538-5051 > === message truncated === __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Jack Silvey INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee only. It contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the named addressee or an authorized designee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose it to anyone else. If you received it in error please notify us immediately and then destroy it. -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Karniotis, Stephen INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: MacGregor, Ian A. INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
