From: Greg Ferro (gferro@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx)
Date: Sun Jan 07 2001 - 20:38:26 GMT-3
In my opinion, we are seeing a lot of companies who want to have Partner,
Silver or Gold status. There are a monster lot of financial benefits from
being a higher level. However, Cisco makes a requirement that they have x
CCIE's (and NP and NA) in their organisation to match.
I wonder how many people attempting the lab exam come from these
organisations, fail often and then complain to Cisco about how difficult it
is. From a financial point of view, it is real cheap just to push people
into the lab, without training, lab eqpt, time off etc etc, rather than
actually invest money in doing it right. I mean, how many people will tell
you that they are a CCIE candidate ? A lot more now that I have ever heard
before.
Consider, 3 lab attempts is about AUS$5000.
Typical costs, say 3 courses (just the useful ones like SNAM say)
(AUS$12000 plus travel perhaps), some books (AUS$700 plus), lab equipment
(AUS$20000??routers, cables, flash etc), plus the time off etc. Say a total
over a year or two of AUS$30K. Starting from nowhere, it takes a year or
two to get to lab readiness (in a market where 3 months is a long time).
In a smaller company, this makes good sense. You can defer your cash flow,
and hey, you might get lucky !! I mean, MSCE are dime a dozen, CCIE can't
be that hard (friend of mine had his company accountant tell him that). In
the meantime, Cisco will give the company 6-12 months grace at a higher
level, more profits, more sales.
This type of shortsighted view is exactly what Cisco appears to be trying
to avoid, they want partners who are committed to their business and
products over the long term. In return, they provide the ability to make
more revenue and reach larger customers.
BTW, I mean no disrespect to anyone. Just a general observation.
OK so flame me, but I think this is part of the problem. I don't have a
whole lot of answers for it. And I agree with George below.
Rgds
Greg
PS:On a separate note, I believe the CCIE program will undergo changes. I
believe that there is a new person in charge of the program, seems logical
that some changes are going to happen.
At 02:20 PM 5/01/2001 -0700, you wrote:
>Does any one really think that Cisco is making huge dollars on $1000.00 for
>a 2 day lab?
>If you do, you really need to learn the cost of staffing the Lab with
>Proctors (CCIE's), Space, Equipment, etc.
>
>The main reason Cisco has a CCIE Program is to have trained talented people
>out there who specialize in their gear.
>It helps sales to have experts available to install, upgrade and maintain
>Cisco equipment.
>
>The only thing more disturbing than a MAN who whines is one who's too
>apathetic to try to help
>
>If you want to do something about the backlog send an email to one of the
>following address'
>
>North and South America: ccie_ucsa@cisco.com
>Europe, Middle East and Africa: ccie_emea@cisco.com
>Asia and the Pacific Rim: ccie_apt@cisco.com
>
>
>George Lampron
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Andrew [mailto:arousch@home.com]
>Sent: Friday, January 05, 2001 9:54 AM
>To: ccielab@groupstudy.com
>Subject: Re: changes are coming
>
>
>Why would Cisco care how many people attempt the lab or the backlog? Cisco
>is cleaning up with the lab costs. I think if YOU feel you are ready to
>take the lab then go for it. What possible prerequisites should be
>imposed? You must pass a PRE-lab? Another written? Get your CCNP and
>CCDP before attempting? Those are ridiculous. If ANYTHING Cisco should
>just create another lab facility (or two, three, four) to accommodate the
>ADDITIONAL interest in the CCIE program.
>
>-A
>
>At 11:29 AM 1/5/01 -0500, you wrote:
>
> >FYI, I spoke to one of the CCIE lab registration coordinators this week and
>it
> >is clear that Cisco is taking action to improve, or at least change the lab
> >registration process. It seems certain that they will move away from the
> >cancellation wait list concept within the next couple of months and
> >migrate to a
> >web-based registration process. This will be a first come, first served
> >process
> >that places the burden on the candidate to check for openings.
> >
> >Less definite, but seriously being considered are better registration
> >opportunities for candidates who do not pass the lab, but at least make it
>to
> >the 2nd day. Apparently they are getting too many people in the lab who
> >need to
> >spend more time on self-study. Applying additional prerequisites to CCIE
> >candidates before admission to the lab are also being considered.
> >
> >Nice to hear that Cisco is responding, especially with lab registration
>dates
> >running into mid to late June at present.
> >
> >
> >
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