|
|
|
| Join Us | CIPS National | CIPS Ontario | Online Directory | Jobs | Discussion Groups | IT Today |
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
CIPS in the NewsCIPS Hosts "Professional Development Series" at IT360° Conference & Expo - April 9, 2008CIPS Members receive a 25% discount
WHAT: CIPS "Professional Development Series"
About IT360°IT360° is an interactive conference and expo for IT professionals and business executives. Faced with the challenge of shrinking budgets and limited time to test or evaluate, IT360° provides a conference of 90+ educational sessions and an informative exposition where professionals can compare applications and solutions while learning first-hand from leading companies and their experts in this immersive arena. IT360° is cultivating innovation by exploring critical IT issues for decision makers from enterprise, to mid-market to SMB's. IMPORTANT: CIPS Members receive a 25% discount to attend IT360°! To register, visit: www.exporeg.com/it360 Canadian tech associations sign up for FacebookBy: Briony Smith CIPS Executive Director Mary Jean Kucerak CAE was quoted in ComputerWorld regarding CIPS's use of Facebook to encourage postings for CIPS's 50th Anniversary. To view the full article, visit:http://www.itworldcanada.com/Pages/Docbase/ViewArticle.aspx?id=idgml-9284308c-ef9f-4e62&Portal=1fa35bf9-d296-4571-8fff-c665a851ec1d&sub=366228IT experts say bad bosses neglect training issuesBy: Kathleen Lau CIPS Director Adam Cole I.S.P. was quoted in a recent article published by ComputerWorld Canada, "IT experts say bad bosses neglect training issues" by Kathleen Lau (November 7, 2007). To view the full article, see: http://www.itworldcanada.com/Pages/Docbase/ViewArticle.aspx?id=idgml-b32de81d-0bfb-4439&Portal=1fa35bf9-d296-4571-8fff-c665a851ec1d&sub=366228 Gender Challenges of Women in the Canadian Advanced Technology SectorNew report researched and published jointly between CATA WIT and the Telfer School of Management. To view the report, click here! CIPS Joins FacebookAs part of CIPS's 50th anniversary activities, CIPS has set up a special CIPS 50th Anniversary Group on Facebook (www.facebook.com)! This is an opportunity for you and CIPS members in your region to share CIPS stories about your experiences over the years. How has CIPS helped your career? Who are the friends you met? What events did you enjoy the most? What are your fondest memories? Share your stories and be entered into a draw to win a limited edition CIPS 50th Anniversary keepsake! Industry groups plan global IT accreditationBy: Shane Schick IT associations in Canada, Australia and the U.K. have gained Microsoft’s support in their efforts to create an accreditation for technology professionals that would be recognized anywhere in the world. The International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP), a United Nations-founded organization with more than 85 member or affiliated IT associations, said Microsoft would share research and other resources as it tries to create the new accreditation. Under the plan, those who receive national certifications from organizations like the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) would immediately receive the new global accreditation, which is being called the International IT Professional (IITP). It would mean that employers hiring from outside the country would know a technology professional has gained a certain level of experience and expertise, and adheres to certain codes of conduct. CIPS is working with the British Computer Society (BCS) and the Australian Computer Society (ACS) to create the global accreditation, which will be governed by a non-profit organization called the International Professional Practice Programme (I3P). The cooperative effort got underway in January when delegates from all three organizations met in Cape Town, South Africa and again in London, England in August. The associations will make further presentations to IFIP during a meeting in Montreal next month. Roger Hart, CIPS professional standards director, said the meeting will see delegates define the accreditation process. He said IT professionals will probably be able to receive the IITP accreditation sometime in early 2009. “I was very presently surprised that all four of the computer societies that were at Capetown were on the same page with the challenges and opportunities in their various countries,” Hart said. “Even though by and large we didn’t know each other before the meeting . . . there was very much a meeting of minds.” CIPS was involved with Canadian federal government in GATT negotiations intended to give international mobility to IT professionals who met a certain level of certification, Hart said. The idea was to address the skills shortage some countries have said they will face in the near future around IT, and to provide better job prospects of skilled immigrants. Those talks collapsed, but the IITP accreditation may accomplish similar objectives. John Oxley, director of community evangelism at Microsoft Canada, said the quest for a global credential is a response to skills shortages, the complexity of IT’s role in the business and the changing nature of technology itself. “Those three changes have driven us to a need to raise that level of the profession,” he said. “You could look at other professions that have grown at a slower pace. I believe the (IT) profession right now is probably ready for it (but) it’s not going to happen tomorrow.” Hart noted the BCS’s approach with credentials such as the Chartered IT Professional, which are now being awarded through arms-length councils including members from outside professions, such as accounting. “Very shortly, it will be quite possible for a chartered accountant in the U.K., if they have sufficient IT knowledge and experience, to not only hold a CA, but also hold a CITP,” he said, adding that Canada and other countries could learn from that approach. Notably absent in the effort for a global accreditation is any involvement from the United States, which did not send any delegates to the Capetown meetings. IFIP could not be reached for comment at press time. The full article can also be viewed at: http://www.itworldcanada.com/Pages/Docbase/ViewArticle.aspx?id=idgml-141e3f35-4609-4894&Portal=1fa35bf9-d296-4571-8fff-c665a851ec1d&sub=366228 CIPS, CATA plan joint effort on ISP designationTwo of country's largest technology associations have joined forces in order to promote IT professionalism and innovation in Canada. Computing Canada magazine published an article in its "News" section regarding CIPS's recent partnership with CATAAlliance: "CIPS, CATA plan joint effort on ISP designation." This article appears on page 4 of Computing Canada (March 16, 2007, Vol. 23, No.4). The electronic version can be found on the IT Business.ca site at: http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/ComputerCanada/News.asp?id=42700&bSearch=True CIPS is also mentioned in the "Editorial" section on page 16 "The industry needs more IT people, and women are the likely candidates." There is also a special CIPS "IT Professional" four-page section on pages 34 to 37. There are articles written by: CIPS VP Stephen Ibaraki FCIPS, I.S.P. ("The community should unite for security"); CIPS President John Boufford I.S.P. ("IT Professionals and robust processes are needed to protect privacy and compliance"); CIPS Alberta Director Vincent Chiew I.S.P. ("Run through this cyber security checklist if you want to guard critical infrastructure"); CIPS Nova Scotia President Bruce Gorman I.S.P. ("ISO 17799: Finally, a universal approach to create security policies and practices") and CIPS Microsoft Partner Diana Piquette ("Software assets can be tough to track unless firms sign up for a SAM program"). IT Industry Moves towards a Global Standard of ProfessionalismCIPS, Australian Computer Society & British Computer Society sign agreement on international credentials for IT professionals Toronto, Ont. (March 13, 2007)--The Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) announced today a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and the British Computer Society (BCS). The main purpose of the MOU between the three associations is to promote a standard of Information Technology (IT) professionalism worldwide. The MOU complements CIPS, ACS and BCS’s involvement in a world IT taskforce aimed at attaining an international credential IT professional status. The joint objectives across both the MOU and the taskforce are to:
ACS President Philip Argy explains, “IT has never been of greater importance to our national and international economy. It also has a profound impact on social and community outcomes. Today’s MOU is a crucial step towards IT attaining its rightful status within the global community, alongside other high impact professions and industries such as doctors, lawyers and accountants. The MOU recognizes the combined effort it will take…to internationalize IT professional status.” CIPS, ACS and BCS have agreed to encourage closer working ties in producing global professional qualifications, products and services. The three organizations also plan on exchanging technical data, running joint training or educational programs, and organizing joint conferences and staff exchanges. “We are all connected through the global critical information infrastructure (CII),” said CIPS President John Boufford I.S.P. “CII management in one country, even at the level of individual businesses, can have a profound effect upon other businesses and countries. Therefore, we need robust and reliable IT services. The need for qualified IT professionals to step up and provide that service has never been greater. This MOU is the first step in creating a global network of professional practitioners that can lead the way in this challenge.” “Cementing closer ties with both these organizations underlines the BCS’s commitment to raising awareness of the need for well-qualified and capable IT professionals for the benefit of not only the U.K. IT industry, but also for information technology industries around the world,” said BCS Chief Executive David Clarke. “The IT sector both in Australia and internationally must develop universal standards of professionalism for IT workers, as this is how we mitigate risk and assure investors of our industry’s quality. This will provide measurable, objective standards and credentials that employers can look for to ensure that individuals within our industry are up to scratch and that they are trustworthy,” added Argy. The duration of the MOU is for ten years. There is also a commitment to help other overseas countries in participating in some of the activities outlined in the MOU. About CIPS Founded in 1958, CIPS (Canadian Information Processing Society) is the association for IT practitioners in Canada. CIPS offers the only professional IT designation, I.S.P., that is recognized by law* in Canada. Visit: www.cips.ca. - *The I.S.P. is legislated as a self-regulating designation in six provinces: B.C., Alta., Sask., Ont., N.S., and N.B. Other CIPS provinces are working toward similar legislation through their provincial government. About the ACS ACS (Australian Computer Society) is the recognized professional association for those working in IT, seeking to raise the standing of IT professionals and represent their views to government, industry and the community in Australia. Visit: www.acs.org.au. About the BCS BCS (British Computer Society) is the leading professional body for those working in IT. BCS has over 58,000 members in more than 100 countries and is the qualifying body for Chartered IT Professionals (CITP). Visit: www.bcs.org. Global IT Profession Comes NearerToronto, Ont. (February 21, 2007)--Being able to identify qualified Information Technology (IT) professionals is critical and gives employers and individuals major advantages, says CIPS, the Canadian representative at a special World IT Task Force meeting held in South Africa recently. Employers will be able to recruit IT individuals outside their own countries with an assurance that those they hire possess the necessary education and experience to practice in the field. The World IT Task Force special meeting was called by the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), a United Nations-sanctioned body, and involved senior representatives from the world’s leading professional computer associations from Canada (Canadian Information Processing Society), Australia (Australian Computer Society), South Africa (Computer Society of South Africa) and the United Kingdom (British Computer Society). The task force is led by Charles Hughes, Immediate Past President of the BCS. The World IT Task Force meeting addressed key issues facing the IT industry today including lack of clarity of international professional skills and qualifications; worldwide mobility of IT professionals; and commenced planning for a global IT profession. CIPS, ACS and BCS have a national scheme to provide public recognition to qualified members. This provides a sound base for the planning of a global IT profession. “Global industries need global professions to promote high professional standards worldwide and to give public recognition to qualified practitioners,” said Hughes. “In the modern world, the IT industry is a global business with many international organizations requiring increasing mobility among individual members of the IT workforce. Hence, employers face growing uncertainty when recruiting staff from outside their own countries.” Basie von Solms, IFIP President-Elect added, “To achieve recognition, IT professionals will require an accredited combination of education and experience, as well as undertaking continuing professional development and committing themselves to a Code of Ethics.” The World IT Task Force agreed to report its findings to the IFIP Council in March 2007 and seek agreement to develop more detailed proposals to establish the scheme as well as agreeing to a governance structure. After acceptance of the report, leading IT organizations will be invited to participate in the development and launch of the program. “Professionalism is the key word in the task force’s mandate. We want IT practitioners around the world to understand the importance of maintaining professional standards,” said CIPS Director Roger Hart I.S.P. “Professional certification, such as Canada’s I.S.P. designation, for example, is one way to address the international skills and qualification issue. Professional certification demonstrates IT professionals’ credibility and ethical practice…that they will only undertake IT projects they are qualified to do.” “Together, the world task force aims to identify a unified IT standard to follow. This will no doubt have an impact on the IT profession both nationally and internationally,” added Hart. About CIPS *The I.S.P. is legislated as a self regulating designation in six provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Other CIPS provinces are working toward similar legislation through their provincial government. About IFIP For more information, visit: www.ifip.org. CATA and CIPS do goodby Martin Slofstra, IT Business (2/14/07) It's good to see two of Canada's leading industry associations working together to solve what is quickly becoming this industry's most pressing problem -- the IT skills shortage. Earlier today, CIPS (Canadian Information Processing Society) and CATAAlliance (Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance) announced a partnership which will, among other things, design and execute a national study on the value of IT professionalism and as well as addressing the skills shortage issue through a series of discussion. When it comes to IT, industry associations in Canada have had a checkered history in terms of working together. I can remember interviewing both a number of CIPS and CATA presidents in years past. And when I asked about the prospects of working together, most said that they hadn't really given it that much thought, or they didn't see any advantage in doing so. The question, in my mind, always has been, can a market as small as Canada really afford to have a fragmented approach to solving problems of a national scope? Increasing globalization of the work force (greater movement and increased competition for a limited supply of labour) is further serving to complicate the issue, thankfully, our associations are doing a much better job of working together. The next step would be for other associations to join in this effort, especially the regionally focused ones found all over the country. Below is a joint news release from CIPS and CATAAlliance announcing a new partnership between the two organizations. CIPS and CATAAlliance Join ForcesFocus on Building Canada as the Innovation Nation Toronto, Ont. (Feb. 13, 2007)--CIPS (Canadian Information Processing Society) and CATAAlliance (Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance) announced today a partnership between the two organizations. CIPS and CATAAlliance aim to be a stronger voice on Information Technology (IT) issues and to offer more products and services to its stakeholders through joint activities. “CIPS and CATAAlliance have similar objectives in negotiating this Memorandum of Agreement - MOU - to provide a competitive environment for Canadian IT businesses to compete in the global economy and to provide good employment opportunities for Canadian IT practitioners,” said CIPS President John Boufford I.S.P. “It is to both our advantages that we utilize our strengths for the benefit of all IT professionals, the IT industry, and the IT profession.” As part of the partnership, CIPS and CATAAlliance are planning to undertake the following:
“We recognize the need to help the industry and profession with the skills shortage issue,” said CATAAlliance President John Reid. “But technical competence is only part of the solution. We need practitioners who can work to professional standards. That means people who have trusted competence as well as trusted intentions. CIPS’s designation – the I.S.P. – is backed by legislation and provides the ‘gold standard’ in Canadian professional certifications. We believe that CIPS-certified practitioners are better able to provide reliable IT services,” added Reid. The MOU is not the first time that CATAAlliance has supported CIPS and its professional certification. CATAAlliance supports the Canadian government’s offer under the General Agreement in Trades and Services (GATS) negotiations in which the I.S.P. designation is one of the criteria allowing foreign IT practitioners to work in Canada. In addition, CIPS actively participates in CATAAlliance’s town hall meetings and actively contributes to on-going research initiatives such as the Advantage Canada Summits and ICTC’s Internationally Educated Professionals (IEP). The MOU increases opportunities for CIPS and CATAAlliance to collaborate more closely on these and other planned initiatives. About CIPS *The I.S.P. is legislated as a self regulating designation in six provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Other provinces are working toward similar legislation through their provincial government. About CATAAlliance The top story in the February 13, 2007 IT Business edition is about the CIPS/ICTC partnership and how CIPS is assisting in addressing the skills shortage issue. See the article below. Industry groups join forces to fight IT labour shortageCIPS and the former Software Human Resource Council plan a tag-team approach that will not only deal with the recruiting challenges but upgrade existing employee skills. Plus: A Women in IT update 2/12/2007 The Information and Communications Technology Council has teamed up with the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) to develop strategies that the two organizations say will improve the quality and quantity of ICT workers in Canada. Formerly known as the Software Human Resource Council, The Information and Communications Technology Council (ICTC) and CIPS said they hope to address an anticipated labour shortage of 89,000 workers by 2011. “We're not just talking about not enough bodies but also the retooling of ICT skills,” said John Boufford, president of CIPS. CIPS already has a representative on the ICTC's board of directors and has participated on projects such as the development of the occupational skills profile model. “But we felt it was time to take the relationship to a new level and participate in the delivery of some of their projects,” he said, “which we haven't defined as yet.” What the partnership will do is bring the two organizations closer together to work on program delivery. CIPS, for example, is interested in helping the ICTC roll out a competency framework, but this is still at the proposal stage. “The ICTC has done a fair bit of work on competency recognition and we have a skill set within our organization that would allow us to help them deliver on that piece,” said Boufford. CIPS is also trying to promote careers in the ICT sector, specifically through its Women in IT program, where it uses female role models within the profession to encourage young women (in grades 9 and 10) to consider careers in IT. While CIPS may not necessarily reach a larger audience through its partnership with the ICTC, it may be more effective at reaching its existing one. The ICTC program in high schools, for example, might look different than the role model approach that CIPS has taken. “If we approach the same person with the same message packaged in different ways, we might be more successful in raising their awareness and enthusiasm for ICT career opportunities,” said Boufford. Its Women in IT program has been around for about seven years and the number of females enrolling in computer science really hasn't changed – it's still stuck at about 25 per cent. “But with enrolment falling in general, there's a case to be made that we really need to be getting these messages out to all students,” said Boufford. The associations are coming together to represent a common interest and that's absolutely necessary going forward, said Keith Carter, vice-president of business development with Professional Computer Consultants Group Ltd. (Procom), who is a board member of both the ICTC and the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance (CATA). Carter said he agreed with Boufford that the greatest challenge in ICT right now is the labour shortage, and industry associations need to work together to address that. The ICTC, for its part, has tried to quantify the labour shortage and communicate that information to government, so it can work toward addressing that shortage. Industry associations also need to dispel myths about careers in information technology, particularly negative images that followed the dot-com bust. “One of the downsides to the tech downturn is this belief that there's no future in technology in Canada, which is absolutely false,” said Carter. CIPS, CATA, ITAC and the ICTC have all tried to reach students with a message that there is a future in technology. “This year was the very first year since the downturn that we've seen an increase in attendance in technology programs,” he said. “So jointly if we all continue to represent this effort, maybe we'll be able to address the problem.” The ICTC was unavailable for comment at press time. The following is CIPS's response to CIPS member Glenn Davies's "Letter to the Editor" in IT Business (Jan. 19) about the value of the I.S.P. designation. This response from CIPS President John Boufford I.S.P. was published in Friday's February 9, 2007 issue of IT Business. Readers weigh in on...Health care talent we lack; CIPS fires back; GST ruling attacked Re: Readers weigh in on… Who needs the I.S.P.? (Jan. 19) People join CIPS for different reasons and I am encouraged that Mr. Davies, a CIPS member, finds value in the Special Interest Group (SIG) meetings that he attends. Others find value in the networking, speakers, conferences, and in the opportunity to contribute to national and international discussions/forums on important issues that influence Information Technology (IT) practitioners, education, industry, government and business. We are sorry to hear that Mr. Davies does not see the value of the Information Systems Professional (I.S.P.) designation. But, other practitioners, IT leaders and employers, as well as recognized international bodies do see value. The IT industry is young and this discourse happens as the profession continues to mature. The international community, academia, government and industry are recognizing the value of the I.S.P. designation - the only Canadian IT professional designation that is backed by statute. For example, the federal government included only the I.S.P. designation (plus two educational/experience options) in Canada's offer at the ongoing General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) negotiations. Furthermore, in a speech last April, the CIO of Canada said that the federal government would be looking at professional certification. Several other organizations are working with CIPS to incorporate the I.S.P. within their organizations and there are initiatives on the international front that show we are the cusp of broader recognition. In a thought-provoking article on the CIPS-Microsoft sponsored Canadian IT Managers' Connection (http://blogs.technet.com/cdnitmanagers/archive/2006/11/13/what-does-professional-status-mean-to-you.aspx), Graham Jones, an influential Vancouver-based user group leader, wrote on the value of professional status. Politicians are regularly approached for legislative improvements (more than they can possibly sponsor) and CIPS has had to convince each of the six legislatures that passed our legislation of the value of the I.S.P. designation. They have all seen the value of IT professionalism. IT practitioners who hold the I.S.P. designation not only possess IT knowledge, they have proven that they have the IT experience to practice in the field. In addition, they have made a commitment to maintain the highest standards of professional practice, ethics and conduct, and they have strong business knowledge. In fact, the I.S.P.-holder looks a lot like the “versatilist” that Gartner Research has been predicting. On the issue of standards, I would agree that technical standards evolve. We are not proposing standards for the “how” but rather the “what.” And, we are defining accountabilities. We will promote national and international standards. But in adopting these standards, we are implicitly linking them to our emerging professional practice guidelines. This improves accountability for the practitioner's actions and decisions. My colleague, Roger Hart I.S.P., P.Eng, who is CIPS's current Director of Professionalism, is both a Professional Engineer and Information Systems Professional. His assessment is that the knowledge, experience, and level of professionalism required to be certified by both associations is very similar. He also disagrees with Mr. Davies's assertion that engineering standards and their bodies of knowledge change very slowly. While this may be true in some fields of engineering, he believes that others are changing just as rapidly as in IT. In the current environment of significant failures that affect almost everyone on Canada's critical information infrastructure, we believe that CIPS-certified practitioners (i.e. I.S.P.-holders) are better able to deliver reliable IT services through best practices, emerging CIPS practice guidelines, and our code of ethics. Leadership is defined by taking on at times challenging initiatives that work for the better of our industry, society and IT practitioners. I am glad that we have the opportunity to share these ideas. John Boufford I.S.P. You can also view this response on the IT Business site at: http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=42201 Canadian IT industry needs image makeover, say analystsITWorldCanada.com For the full article click here CIPS execs in Africa to discuss professionalism standardsGroup seeks to have IT certification recognized in other countries By Shane Shick, IT Business (January 8, 2007) Canadian IT professionals might one day be able to have their local certification credentials recognized in other countries following an international meeting on technology professionalism this week. The Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) has sent two representatives to Cape Town, Africa to attend a conference convened by a United Nations-sanctioned body called the International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP). The meeting, to take place Monday and Tuesday, will also include representatives from Australia and the U.K. The group plans to review the current practices around IT professionalism and to develop an “action plan” around standardizing approaches. IFIP will be presenting a report on the results of the meeting to a global council of partners on Feb. 28. CIPS has struggled for several years to boost the profile and adoption of the Information Systems Professional (I.S.P.) certification it first launched in 1989. About 1,500 hold the designation today, and IT industry recruiters have told Computing Canada in the past it is relatively rare to see it associated with job candidates. (CIPS also publishes a section in Computing Canada, an IT Business Group magazine, about professionalism and the I.S.P. certification). CIPS professional standards director Roger Hart, who with former CIPS president George Boynton is attending the IFIP meeting this week, said professionalism is becoming a bigger issue as the IT industry matures. The day is coming when IT professionals need the same kind of credentials as engineers or those in other industries, he said. Besides the I.S.P. certification, CIPS has also established a code of ethics, which it updated last year... To view the full article http://www.itbusiness.ca/it/client/en/home/News.asp?id=41784 Newsletters (CIPScene)May 2005 CIPSceneMessage from the Program Chair - Program Update Women in Technology (WIT 2005)Message from the President 2005 CIPS Ottawa Scholarship Recipients
February 2005 CIPSceneMessage from the Program Chair - Program Update Ottawa 2004-2005 Program Overview Management Information Systems Association (MISA)
November 2004 CIPSceneMessage from the Program Chair - Program Update Ottawa 2004-2005 Program Overview
CIPScene Archives |
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright © 2000 - 2004 Canadian Information Processing Society All rights reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement |