Slide deck from a presentation I gave to the London Salesforce Developers User Group on 26th July 2012. Video available at: http://skillsmatter.com/podcast/home/trust-me-im-an-architect

1. Salesforce Certified Technical
Architect
Keir Bowden
@bob_buzzard

2. About Me
• CTO, BrightGen
• 4 Years working with Force.com
• Force.com MVP
• Certified Technical Architect – Jan 2012

3. Overview
• Highest level of certification
• Highest level of investment
• Need plenty of experience
• Don’t take it until you are ready!

4. Pre-Requisites
• Developer Certification
• Extensive experience - breadth
• Narrow experience – depth
• Full project scope
• Personal and technical skills

5. Resources
• http://certification.salesforce.com
• Partner Academy
• Premier Training
• http://developer.force.com
• Youtube – Technical Architect Playlist

6. Topics

7. Topics
• Security and Privacy
– Authentication
– Sharing
– Profiles
– Physical and Logical

8. Topics
• Integration, integration, integration
– Reaching In/Out
– Not just APIs
– Security
– Bulk

9. Topics
• Apex/Visualforce
– When to use
– Standard versus custom controller
– Internal or external
– Customer skill set

10. Topics
• Sites and Portals
– Options
– Trade Offs
– Licensing
– Security Impact

11. Topics
• Identity Management
– DA
– SAML
– Oauth
– Developerforce – CRC:SSO

12. Topics
• Performance/Scalability
– Configure, App Exchange, Build
– Best Practices
– Visualforce Pages
– Constraints

13. Topics
• Large Data Volumes
– Loading/Updating
– Extracting
– Tuning
– Data Reduction

14. Topics
• Single versus Multi-org
– Pros and Cons
– Deployment Strategies
– Governance

15. Topics
• Mobile
– Native Apps
– Hybrid
– HTML5
– Trade offs

16. Topics
• Project Governance
– Methodology
– Change Management
– Stakeholder Management
– Centre of Excellence

17. The Exams

18. Self Assessment
• Multiple Choice
• 42 questions
• 30 minutes
• Free, non-proctored

19. Cognitive
• Multiple choice
• 60 questions
• 120 Minute time limit
• Pass mark 63%

20. Cognitive
• Proctored
• $500
• Scenario based
• Not about memorizing

21. Review Board

22. Review Board
• Pass cognitive first
• Take within 1 year
• $6000
• Regular sessions

23. Review Board
• Email notification
• Video link or in person
• Moderated
• US hours

24. Review Board
• Produce case study
• Real-life implementation
• Client approval
• Hard to choose

25. Case Study
• Client/Project Background
• As-is and to-be
• Architecture diagram
• Appropriate data model

26. Case Study
• Risks and mitigation
• Stakeholders
• Sharing model
• Security

27. Case Study
• Key use cases
– Problem
– Solution alternatives
– Decision with reasons
• Development Methodology

28. Case Study
• Change Management
• Post go live
• Challenges
• Avoid confidential information

29. Review Board – Make Up
• Highly Skilled
• International Presence
• Mix of skills
• Trained as a judge

30. Review Board - Overview
• 4 hour session
• Architect a solution from cold
• Present and Q&A
• Present case study and Q&A

31. Review Board - Prep
• Rehearse case study presentation
• Dry-run to tune timing
• Take photo ID
• Windows laptop!

32. Review Board – Part 1
• 75 minutes
• Sample scenario
• Architect Solution
• Produce presentation

33. Review Board – Part 1
• Only 75 minutes!
• Complex requirements
• Time box
• No right answer

34. Review Board – Part 2
• 30 minutes
• Uninterrupted
• Present solution
• Laptop, whiteboard, flipcharts

35. Review Board – Part 2
• Use all available time!
• Justify your decisions
• Give details
• Be clear and confident

36. Review Board – Part 3
• 30 minutes
• Q&A on solution
• Interview style questions

37. Review Board – Part 3
• Longest 30 minutes of your life
• Questions Deepen
• Don’t Guess
• Don’t Dwell

38. Review Board – Part 4
• 30 minutes
• Present case study
• Laptop, flipchart, whiteboard

39. Review Board – Part 4
• Should be polished
• Talk in detail
• Communicate effectively
• Use all available time

40. Review Board – Part 5
• 45 minutes
• Q&A on case study
• Board are prepared

41. Review Board – Part 5
• Know your case study!
• Talk in detail
• Not restricted to case study

42. Review Board Advice
• Treat as Customers
• Keep Calm
• Be Confident
• Its your story

43. Results
• Up to 4 weeks
• Includes Feedback
• Borderline cases

44. Problems To Date
• Lack of experience/knowledge
• Communicating pros and cons
• Overcome with nerves
• Not at the right level

45. Retake Policy
• Self-assessment - free
• Multiple choice - $250
• Review board includes 1 retake
• $6000 third attempt

46. Maintenance
• Developer Certification
• Community Contributions
• Review Board member

47. Q&A

48. Feedback/Follow Up
• Twitter: @bob_buzzard
• Facebook: TheRealBobBuzzard
• Developerforce: bob_buzzard
• Blog: http://bobbuzzard.blogspot.co.uk/