12 Tips for Success at an
MCA:
Preparation is always a key factor in achieving success.
Here are 12 points for MCA candidates to take into account as they prepare for
an MCA board appearance.
1. Select a recent project for the presentation, ideally one
on which you had significant leadership responsibility and which was completed
successfully. Be prepared to discuss the challenges that arose in meeting that
responsibility: the internal politics involved, the compromises you made, how
you communicated with senior management, and your own management style.
Practice the presentation and make sure that you can make the major points that
you consider important within 30 minutes. The majority of board presentations
cover the technical aspects of projects, but some presentations primarily
address organizational dynamics or project management. In these instances, be
prepared to cover key technology concerns in the project if the board asks you
to do so.
2. Include diagrams in your presentation to illustrate the
logical architecture of your solution in addition to important details. Be
prepared to illustrate on a white board other aspects of the project in
sufficient detail to convince the board that you have deep knowledge and
understanding of the solution.
3. If you are an infrastructure concentration candidate,
have knowledge of different ways to approach infrastructural
designs—particularly Active Directory (AD), networks, and messaging
environments—so that you can contrast and compare the different solutions.
4. Be prepared to discuss an IT architectural framework such
as The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) and how to effectively apply
architectural frameworks in projects.
5. Be prepared to discuss how the IT Infrastructure Library
(ITIL) can be effectively applied in projects. The ongoing operation and
monitoring of a project is often as challenging and interesting as the initial
design and deployment.
6. Be able to discuss how to take a project from concept to
design to deployment, and understand the different challenges that exist at
each phase.
7. Don’t waffle if you can't answer a question. Acknowledge
that you don't have the answer and move on.
8. Be prepared to discuss how you think technology will
develop in the future, especially in your own areas of competence, and be able
to show how these developments may affect the projects you work on.
9. Be prepared to discuss areas of technology outside of
those you cover in your presentation, including some that the review board
might introduce (such as a question about Linux or Open Source when you present
Windows as one of your areas of competence). You have to be able to show the
board that you are not a one-hit wonder when it comes to technology and that
you possess knowledge across a wide breadth of technologies. Assume that the
board possesses enough knowledge about the technologies that you plan to
discuss to understand the importance and impact of your work. It is a mistake
to underestimate the board and attempt to convey information that is untrue or
misleading.
10. Be able to show that you have achieved a longstanding
and ongoing relationship with customers. Consultants who hop between projects
to act as troubleshooters or in a presales role are unlikely to be as
convincing as architects who have long-term involvement with their projects.
11. It's good to be able to show that you understand the
economic impact of IT projects and technology as a whole. For example,
understand how ROI is calculated, the difference between capital costs and
running costs, and how to make trade-offs to meet project budgets. It's also
good to be able to demonstrate awareness of customers' business environment and
the dynamics that influence their business.
12. Take the time to submit timely, well-prepared
documentation to the board. Submit documents that meet the same standards as
customer deliverables. Ensure that the documents are clear, concise, and
formatted appropriately. Spell-check your work. Remember that the board members
have a mountain of documentation to read and comprehend before they begin the
interviews. If your material is easy to follow and interesting to read, you'll
begin by making a great impression on the board.
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