Open standards organisation the Open Group is launching
a certification programme aimed at raising the level of
professionalism among system integrators and those who design IT
systems.
The IT architect certification programme, being launched next
month, will set out minimum technical and business requirements for
business analysts, project advisers, technical advisers and others
whose responsibilities involve designing or implementing IT
architecture.
James de Raeve, vice-president of certification at the Open
Group, said the certification will provide end-users in the private
and public sector with a yardstick to measure competency both in
terms of recruiting individual full time and contractor staff and
when evaluating tenders for IT services.
"Individuals will be able to submit a form to an Open Group
certification board that will interview candidates," de Raeve said.
He said the Open Group would assess existing programmes used
internally by system integrators to ensure their IT architects met
the requirements of the certification. The Open Group is also in
discussion with user groups to take on responsibility for
certification at a regional level.
Andy Mulholland, chief technology officer at Capgemini, said,
"Over the next three to five years people will become better IT
architects because they will meet a set of requirements."