Enterprise is a bit abstract term. Who knows what does it exacly is? So many people, so many definitions.
Enterprise is defined by one of OpenGroup documents as:
“[..] any collection of organizations that has common set of goals [..]“
This definition is very wide and one time can affect a whole set of locations of one company, and the second time in different perspective it can affect set of departments in one location.
I think, that the most important part of definition of enterprise, is information about “common set of goals“. Good point to create a question.
Tags: enterprise, enterprise architecture, opengroup, preparation
Prometric is a company that supports whole process of an exam. It has many local institutions whose cooperates with it. Prometric cooperates also with many companies that promotes their own exams (Microsoft, OpenGroup, Oracle). Together it gives big amounts of places where it is possible to take a big amounts of exams 
By using website of Prometric it’s required to register and to set date of exam. New account must be created at the first use. After this it’s possible to select company that delivers exam (Microsoft, OpenGroup), nearest location of place to taking an exam and date of this exam. It’s good idea to call to this place earlier and verify selected date: sometimes there are also courses and access to computer with Prometric’s application (that presents an exam) will be impossible. One phone call before, could save much time later.
At the end you have to pay for the exam. Prices are different for different exams. Sometimes on the Internet are available promotion codes, so it’s good to make some searchings with Google before paying with credit card.
In the result email with summary of registered exam is sent by mailer of Prometric. There are the most important informations about exam. It’s highly suggested to print this email and to go with it on the exam.
In the day of truth at the beginning there are some regulations which requires to be signed. Then the exam begins. Special “package” with questions from Prometric is loaded by local operator into computer and time starts counting down.
Type of questions, their amount and points for them can be different for different exams.
At the end information about earned scores is presented. If you are good enough, you are going to recive next title
Tags: prometric
How does the Togaf 9 Exam 1 (so Togaf 9 Fundation) look like? How many points is needed to pass?
According to http://www.opengroup.org/togaf9/cert/docs/og91.html:
”
- Exam Number/Name: OG0-091 TOGAF 9 Part 1
- Reference: OG0-091 / OG-IBT-091
- Qualification upon passing: TOGAF 9 Foundation (and partial credit towards the TOGAF 9 Certified qualification)
- Delivered at: Authorized Prometric Testing Centers and through some Accredited TOGAF Training Course Providers (***)
- Prerequisites: None
- Supervised: Yes
- Open Book: No
- Exam type: Multiple choice
- Number of questions: 40
- Pass score: 55% (22 out of 40 questions)
- Time limit: 60 minutes
- Retake policy: If you fail the test you must wait one month before another attempt
- Prometric Fee: USD 320. Local taxes may apply (**)
- Recommended Study: Study Guide and/or Practice Test (note that the Study Guide also includes a copy of the Practice Test)
- Recommended Training: An Accredited TOGAF Training Course covering the TOGAF 9 Level 1 conformance reqirements . See the Register of Accredited TOGAF Training Courses
”
So, the most important information for us is:
- 40 questions,
- 55% percentages to get positive result,
- multiple choice answers,
- 60 minutes to answer on all questions,
- NO access to any extra materials (i.e. books).
Comparing this to Microsoft exams it can be said that it’s not so hard. But it must be remembered that this is just FIRST level of Togaf Certification. The second one – which will be described later – is much less friendly…
Tags: materials, opengroup, preparation
Intro
A 70-536 is old, but it’s still very important exam on certification paths to MCPD and/or MCTS certificates. It covers core / main features of the .NET Framework in version 1.0, 1.1, 2.0 and 3.5. I’ve passed it (with the score 978/1000) a few months ago, and I have to say that it was nicer than 70-548 (Web Applications). If you try to get any of MCPD or MCTS titles you have to pass it – earlier or later.
Materials / Knowledge source
The most important informations about it can be found at Microsoft page TS: Microsoft .NET Framework – Application Development Foundation. It’s good place to start from, but the informations are very dry, and after a few minutes I’m sure, you will get bored.
Can I try?
Of course, that you can Microsoft suggests to meet following requirments:
- 2 – 3 years of experience with .NET Framework
- using one of following programming environments: Visual Studio 2003, Visual Studio 2005, Visual Studio 2008
In mine opinion if you work with this technologies for some time you can start the preparation. If you’re able to create webshop or desktop application without checking every word/function parameters/construction in books, you’re ready to go.
What to pay attention?
Remember, that areas you are good at might not cover the whole area of the egzam. Do not ignore that, because You can be sadly dissapointed at the examination center.
Read the Requirments page and check what you need to improve. Do not skip any part. Invest your time now, you will save your money later 
How to learn?
Take exercises, ask yourself questions and of course find answers to them. Spend more time with the Visual Studio than with the book. Practice makes perfect. Remember.
I read chapter by chapter and I think it was good. Remember about doing the exam at the end of every part of material. You must know, that they are not as complicated as the real. On the exam you will not find simple questions as these.
Is that all?
No. The next part will be soon. Do not miss it
Tags: 70-536, materials, mcpd, mcts, preparation
So we decided: TOGAF is at our fingertips!!
At the beginning we have to get materials. After making a simple query search to the google we find a website of The OpenGroup. They define themselves as:
The Open Group is a vendor-neutral and technology-neutral consortium, whose vision of Boundaryless Information Flow™ will enable access to integrated information, within and among enterprises, based on open standards and global interoperability.
OKey, so we are at the right place.
In the “Bookstore && Downloads” category (available at: http://www.opengroup.org/bookstore/catalog/ ) you can see those books. When you click the name of any of them, a description is available. For us – we’re going to take Togaf 9 exam – “TOGAF Version 9“, “TOGAF 9 Part 1 Practice Test“, “TOGAF 9 Part 2 Practice Test“, “TOGAF 9 Certified Study Guide” are ok. You don’t have to buy them all at the same time.
Unfortunatelly most of the books available on this site is not free. For some of them it is possible to buy electronic or hard copy version, for other it is possible to buy only electronic copy.
There is also a section named “Downloading TOGAF 9 as a Non-Member” at http://www.opengroup.org/architecture/togaf9/downloads.htm page. You can download there TOGAF “Version 9 under a free, personal, 90-day Evaluation License“. I think that this is the best option for us right now. It gives time to verify if togaf is this what we really want without spending money on it.
I also found some other links that you might be interested in:
- http://chriseaton.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/togaf-9-certification-multiple-choice-questions/ – some example questions,
- http://www.enterprise-architecture.info/Images/Documents/Togaf%20seminar.pdf – presentation with the main informations about Togaf
- http://www.togaf.info/togaf9/togafSlides9/TOGAF-V9-F13-Certification.pdf – How does the certification process looks like? What kind of paths does it have? How much work in front of us?
- …? any suggestions?
If I find anything interesting, I update the list.
ps. I shouldn’t say that but: if you will search good enough you can find those books on sites like rapidshare, megaupload or similar, but remember: it’s at least not fair. Laws of some countries accept downloading (it’s not prohibited) but don’t accept sharing files to others.
Tags: enterprise architecture, materials, opengroup, preparation
So.. I’m starting preparation to the TOGAF 9 Certification and I thought that it would be nice to share some knowledge about it.
What will this blog contain?
I think I will be able to write about:
- process of reaching certificate,
- problematic questions on the exam,
- “things” that seems to be important to know about them,
- profits of earning certs
- and others.
What kind of subjects can be found here?
- How does the Prometric work?
- What do I need to pass XYZ exam?
- Am I ready to take an exam? How to verify it?
What you will NOT be able to find here?
Hm… after 15 minutes of thinking I have found here a huge gap Probably on this blog you will be able to find everything what is anyhow connected to the subject of exams (of course in the range accepted by the law).
This is first post, and I hope so that not the last one