Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why the Business Architecture Center of Excellence (BACOE)?
The Business Architecture Center of Excellence (BACOE) is the vendor-neutral, practitioner-based organization solely dedicated to Business Architecture and the Business Architect. We provide the Business Architecture communities with continuing evolving best-practice holistic environments for the practice of Business Architecture.
Our certification approach is simple and straightforward – learn the practice of Business Architecture, actually perform Business Architecture, have that performance reviewed by the worlds most experience Business Architects, and receive the appropriate level of certification. You gain experience, use your knowledge and the knowledge of other practitioners, add to the knowledge base, and continue to grow the profession.
Why Should I Care?
The BACOE provides the recognized practitioning standard for Business Architects. As you review the workshop outlines, you will see the most comprehensive and complete base of understanding in the profession. Certification through the BACOE will provide you with a referenceable standard, and is the benchmark for the Business Architecture practitioning professions. You will be recognized for your achievements – now and in the future.
Certifying against a defined knowledge base is crucial to advance the profession. All professional disciplines begin with a base of understanding as a reference point. The BACOE Business Architecture Certification processes follow this professional discipline. Without this base of knowledge, the results of the Business Architecture will be inconsistent, and difficult to verify. As an example, chemistry was alchemy until Mendeleev defined the chemical periodic table of elements. Once the periodic table of the elements was defined, a base of understanding was developed. From this understanding base, alchemy could be transformed to chemistry and “chemical engineering”. The chemical engineering profession then flourished. Numerous other parallels in other disciplines can be drawn with the same positive conclusions.
Our advisory Board of Directors are from the partitioning community – we are truly vendor neutral. The BACOE accepts no funding or support from outside concerns – we are strictly here for the Business Architecture Practitioner community. Of course we welcome software vendors and service vendors to our community – all should practice from the same knowledge base.
Finally, with the BACOE, and only with the BACOE, you get a consistent instructional experience. We provide a single consistent practitioner-based workshop environment, guaranteed to be consistent – one instructor, one consistent and timely base of understanding, and the highest possible learning experience.
Who is Eligible for Certification?
By packaging all requirements in one comprehensive workshop (with the exception of the advanced certification requirement of actual Business Architecture practice), all guesswork and inconsistencies are taken out of the process. The Certification received is consistent and practice-based. Everyone is measured against the same criteria base of proficiency – the only way to assure professional results across the community.
Can I Benefit from the Certification workshop if I am not Seeking Certification?
The workshop will provide valuable insight for all that manage, interface, or desire an understanding of Business Architecture and Business Architects. Certification is an option for those attending this workshop.
Please see our registration page for current pricing. The workshop fee includes:
A Business Architecture Process
A Business Architecture Classification, Taxonomy, and Framework
A Business Architecture Work Breakdown Structure and Methodology
A Business Architect Maturity Model
An Organization Change Model, Process, Methodology and Work Breakdown Structure
A Set of Business Understanding Components
A Set of Technology Understanding Components
An Understanding of Business Architecture Models
An Understanding of Business Implementation Models Components geared toward “short-term value”, that can be built upon to provide “long-term value”
Templates and tools to provide immediate practitioner guidance
Criteria to allow practitioners to be recognized for growing competencies as their experience grows, based on actual Business Architecture enablement activities
Classroom presentation and workshop materials
What Does it Cost?
All BACOE Members will receive a certificate, lapel pin, and a membership card, colored to denote the appropriate classification, and noting the expiration date of the classification certification. If desired, a BACOE Member may request their name, classification level, and expiration date of the classification be posted on our website. The appropriate certification logo can be used by the Certified BACOE Business Architect in correspondence.
How do People Know I am BACOE Certified?
Initial Certification takes place at the end of the Certification workshop, upon successful completion of the extensive classroom exercises. Senior, Distinguished, and Fellow designations require additional submissions and reviews. Certification of these advanced designations usually takes thirty days after successful submissions are received, and the evaluation criteria met. Each candidate for advanced Certification submits an individualized plan for these certification levels.
How Long will it take to get my Business Architecture Certification?
You will be evaluated by Certified BACOE Business Architects that have at least ten years of experience in Business Architecture and the knowledge of comprehensive techniques represented by the BACOE Certification workshops. Our objective it to get you certified, not to prevent certification. All of our staff are practicing Business Architects – the BACOE is in existence for practitioners, and run by practitioners.
Who is Reviewing my Work and What are their Qualifications?
What Should be in my Individualized Plan for Advanced Certification?
An individualized plan should contain a profile of how the candidate intends to demonstrate advanced Business Architecture skills. The focus is on the defined artifacts that are an Business Architecture. Additionally, project management, business understanding, and organization skills demonstration should be in the individualized plan. All of these components are part of the BACOE Certification workshops, and part of a seasoned Business Architecture skill set.
BACOE Advanced Certification require demonstrating actual Business Architecture and Business Architecture artifacts. As examples, this would include models, project plans, benefit testimonials, Business Architecture documents, surveys, etc. BACOE will accept materials with some redaction. Confidentiality agreements can be executed.
Professional Certification in most professions are limited in time. BACOE Certification is consistent with this concept. BACOE Certification for a Business Architect is valid for two years. Advanced categories of BACOE Certification are valid for three years. Certification renewal has the same requirements as initial Certification.
Do I have to renew my Certification?
Can I Display my BACOE Certification on My Own Web Site, Business Cards, Etc.?
Yes, as long as the Certification remains valid.