The Making of an Expert

The Oxford English Dictionary defines an expert as “a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.” In the ever-evolving software industry, building experts in the latest technology is a constant challenge. So how do you build both “comprehensive and authoritative skill” quickly and effectively?

The software industry is rife with many “what not to do” stories. The analogy I like to use is building a house. You would never take a layperson, introduce them to a toolbox (“a hammer is used to hit nails, a saw is used to cut wood”) and then ask them to build you a house. With this example it is obvious that the chances you end up with your dream home are very low. Clearly, expertise and experience matter in the outcome. But yet, in the software industry, we routinely introduce software developers to a completely new technology with feature/functionality-focused training and then ask them to implement high end enterprise software solutions. It is no wonder that 70% of IT projects fail, according to McKinsey.

In comparison, trade crafts follow a tried and tested approach to building experts. Going back to medieval times, apprentices learned about the tools of the trade by assisting their master craftspeople. By helping with simple tasks and observing the expert craftspeople, the apprentice builds up skills and earns the moniker of journeyman. A journeyman then continues to hone their skills over time before being declared an expert craftsperson.

Modern medical schools follow a similar approach. Medical students complete a daunting amount of prerequisite learning before being allowed to interact with patients. And even then, their actions are  limited. After medical school comes residency where years of practice occur under the watchful eye of an attending physician. Only after residency are doctors considered fit for independent patient care.

So why should the software industry be any different? The answer is that it does not have to be.

At Talend, our curriculum for building Talend Experts follows the same fundamental steps as craftspeople and medical doctors. And unlike those fields, Talend has created distinct designations to help both technologists and their managers monitor their achievement as they move from apprentice to expert. We allow learners to earn and display their expertise via badges, a form of digital credentials.

It all starts with exploration. At the exploration stage, technologists receive recognition for learning the basics around the technology. Revisiting the homebuilder analogy, an “Explorer” is someone who has learned that a hammer is for nails, a saw is for cutting wood, etc. This is the first stage where the learner can proudly display their validated credentials for others to see.

This is my own Talend Studio Explorer badge:

Explorers graduate to Associates. Associates not only know the basics of the toolbox, but they also have finished more in-depth training validated by quizzes along the way. Leveraging the medical school analogy, the prerequisite learning has been completed and Associates are ready to start interacting with patients under supervision. After approximately six months of practical experience, Associates can further validate their knowledge by passing a certification exam and becoming a Certified Practitioner.

And now our learners are ready for their residency. In our case, residency equates to a hands-on validation of knowledge through a graded, simulated project. Successful completion earns them the status of Professional. Our learner is ready to practice on their own!

But how do you validate true expertise? There are several ways, including looking at their knowledge sharing and influence on others’ growth. But the ultimate test is being pulled into a troubleshooting situation and being asked to tune an application they didn’t write. Our Performance-based Examinations test the capabilities of even the most skilled specialist.

Interested in learning more about how Talend Academy is applying these best practices in our offerings? Listen to our own Frédérique Martin Sainte-Agathe’s presentation on “Talend Academy: Building a Generation of Talend Experts” at TSIA Interact on May 6, 2021 at 10:15 AM US PT. As the leader of Talend Academy, Frédérique is responsible for the overall Talend Academy roadmap and strategy. She ensures Talend customers have access to all the resources they need to be successful with Talend products, from beginner to expert levels. We are very proud that TSIA has recognized our innovative work in this area.