Information systems skills: achieving alignment between the curriculum and the needs of the IS professionals in the future

ABSTRACT

The objectives of this study are to find out the perceived information systems (IS) skills which are important at present and in five years time, and the perceived emphasis of IS curricula on these skills. It is found that the scope of skills required of IS professionals will broaden towards the end of the decade. Interpersonal skills, business skills, analysis and design skills, and programming skills are the most critical for career development. Results also show that there is a match between the skills and knowledge possessed by IS graduates of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and industry requirements for the current IS environment. However, the curriculum is not aligned with industry needs in the future. This indicates that the education the respondents received does not prepare them for progression up the career ladder. Implications of the findings are discussed so that a new curriculum may be designed to provide the preferred IS graduates to industry.

REFERENCES

• 1: Benbasat, I., Dexter, A. S., and Mantha, R. W., (1980). "Impact of Organizational Maturity Information System Skill Needs," MIS Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 21-34.
• 2: Janice M. Burn, The impact of information technology on organisational structures, Information and Management, v.16 n.1, p.1-10, Jan. 1989 [doi>10.1016/0378-7206(89)90022-0]
• 3: Burn, J. M., Tye, Ng E. M. W., Ma, Louis C. K., and Poon, R. S. K., (1994). "Managing IT Professionals in Hong Kong - A Review of Career Expectations and Progression," Journal of Information Technology, "Focus on Asia," June, Vol. 5, No. 3, pp. 17-27.
• 4: Chau, P. Y. K., and Tye, Ng E. M. W., (1993). "IS Skills Required for the 1990s: The Hong Kong Scenario," Proceedings of 8th International Academy for Information Management Conference , Florida, December, pp. 99-111.
• 5: Cheney, P. H., and Lyons, N. R., (1980). "Information Systems Skill Requirements: A Survey," MIS Quarterly, Vol. 4, No. 1, pp. 35-43.
• 6: Paul H. Cheney , David P. Hale , George M. Kasper, Knowledge, skills and abilities of information systems professionals: past, present, and future, Information and Management, v.19 n.4, p.237-247, Nov. 1990 [doi>10.1016/0378-7206(90)90033-E]
• 7: S. K. F. Chung, I.T. Professional Develoment in Hong Kong - Experience & Plan, Proceedings of the IFIP WG3.4 Working Conference on Professional Development of Information Technology Professionals, p.73-80, July 13-16, 1992
• 8: Farwell, D. W., Kuramoto, L., Lee, O., Trauth, E. M., and Winslow, C., (1992). "A New Paradigm for IS: The Educational Implications," Information Systems Management, Vol. 9, No. 2, pp. 7-14.
• 9: Green, G. I. (1989). 'Perceived Importance of Systems Analysts' Job Skills, Roles, and Non-Salary Incentives," MIS Quarterly, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 115-133.
• 10: Magid Igbaria , Jeffrey H. Greenhaus , Saroj Parasuraman, Career orientations of MIS employees: an empirical analysis, MIS Quarterly, v.15 n.2, p.151-169, June 1991 [doi>10.2307/249376]
• 11: Israel, B. (1990). "Hiring Systems Analysts for the 1990s," Information Executives, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 35-36.
• 12: Robert L. Leitheiser, MIS skills for the 1990s: a survey of MIS managers' perceptions, Journal of Management Information Systems, v.9 n.1, p.69-91, Summer 1992
• 13: Leung, E. (1990). "EDP Manpower and Training. The Latest VTC Survey." Hong Kong Computer Journal, Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 7-11.
• 14: Ephraim R. McLean , Stanley J. Smits , John R. Tanner, Managing new MIS professionals, Information and Management, v.20 n.4, p.257-263, April 1991 [doi>10.1016/0378-7206(91)90018-W]
• 15: D. John Monin , Philip J. Dewe, Skills in an environment of turbulence: a survey of information systems professionals in New Zealand, Proceedings of the 1994 computer personnel research conference on Reinventing IS : managing information technology in changing organizations: managing information technology in changing organizations, p.208-218, March 24-26, 1994, Alexandria, Virginia, United States [doi>10.1145/186281.186325]
• 16: Martin Richards , Lee Pelley, The ten most valuable components of an information systems education, Information and Management, v.27 n.1, p.59-68, July 1994 [doi>10.1016/0378-7206(94)90102-3]
• 17: Sim, L. (1989). "HK Turning Out Inadequate IT Graduates," Computer Weekly Supplement.
• 18: Trauth, E. M., Farwell, D. W., and Lee, D., (1993). "The IS Expectation Gap: Industry Expectations Versus Academic Preparation," MIS Quarterly, Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 293-307.
• 19: United Communications Group (1988). "Preparing for Tomorrow's Systems Jobs," I/S Analyzer, Vol. 26, No. 5.
• 20: Virgo, P. (1992). "IT Training and IT Skills, 2 -- Current IT Skills Issues," NCC Briefings, April.
• 21: Vitalari, N. P. (1985). "Knowledge as a Basis for Expertise in Systems Analysis: An Empirical Study," MIS Quarterly, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 221- 241.
• 22: Vocational Training Council (1991). 1991 Manpower Survey Report -- Information Technology Sector.
• 23: Wang, P., and Khan, M. B., (1994). "MIS Skills of IS Graduates in the Republic of China," Journal of Global Information Mangement, Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 29-40.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Information systems education

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.6 MANAGEMENT OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS
      K.6.1 Project and People Management
          Subjects: Training

General Terms:
Human Factors, Management, Measurement