Leveraging Diversity in Information Systems and Technology Education in the Global Workplace

2011 ◽  
pp. 27-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eileen M. Trauth
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Pedagogical Practices ◽  
Global Information ◽  
State University ◽  
Information Economy ◽  
Pennsylvania State University ◽  
Demographic Profiles ◽  
It Workforce

In this chapter we consider the educational needs of the globally diverse information technology (IT) sector and a curriculum that has been developed in order to respond to them. We begin by discussing two human resource (HR) gaps that are affecting the preparation of tomorrow’s IT workforce. The first gap is a participation gap, which is related, in part, to the under representation in recruitment and retention of students with particular demographic profiles in information systems and technology (IS&T) education. The second gap is a knowledge gap, which is related to the globalization of the IT field and the challenges of developing compatible curriculum and pedagogical practices that will prepare students for careers in such a field. We argue that diversity is a lens that can be used to both understand these HR gaps and to develop curricular responses to them. We do this by considering, as a case study, a course developed and taught in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Pennsylvania State University that is intended to address these gaps. This course—Human Diversity in the Global Information Economy—is offered to exemplify a way of addressing the diversity dimension of the IT skill set.

scholarly journals A multi-method study of the IS impact of SAP in a large organization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Azim Ali
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Global Information ◽  
Is Success ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Large Organization ◽  
Quality Value ◽  
Access To Data

<p>The latest Gartner report states that in 2012, the figure for global Information Technology (IT) spending amounted to US $3.6 trillion and a predicted $3.8 trillion in 2013. Achieving an effective measure of IS success and impact of information systems has been a goal for information systems researchers for decades.  Numerous methods exist for measuring the quality, value and impact of information systems in organizations, including benchmarking, ISO standards, and user surveys. However, typically, often due to restricted access to data, researchers only use one type of measure.  This study uses a single-organization case study investigating measures of the quality, value and impact of the SAP system in the largest telecommunications organization in New Zealand, using and comparing a range of methods and perspectives. The researcher also evaluates the best possible measures for organizations to adopt by comparing multiple methods.</p>

scholarly journals A multi-method study of the IS impact of SAP in a large organization

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Azim Ali
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Global Information ◽  
Is Success ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Large Organization ◽  
Quality Value ◽  
Access To Data

<p>The latest Gartner report states that in 2012, the figure for global Information Technology (IT) spending amounted to US $3.6 trillion and a predicted $3.8 trillion in 2013. Achieving an effective measure of IS success and impact of information systems has been a goal for information systems researchers for decades.  Numerous methods exist for measuring the quality, value and impact of information systems in organizations, including benchmarking, ISO standards, and user surveys. However, typically, often due to restricted access to data, researchers only use one type of measure.  This study uses a single-organization case study investigating measures of the quality, value and impact of the SAP system in the largest telecommunications organization in New Zealand, using and comparing a range of methods and perspectives. The researcher also evaluates the best possible measures for organizations to adopt by comparing multiple methods.</p>

Challenges of Managing the Global IS/IT Workforce

2008 ◽  
pp. 2645-2659
Author(s):  
Rosann Webb Collins ◽  
Stanley J. Birkin
Keyword(s):  
Information Systems ◽  
Global Information ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
It Workforce ◽  
Labor Statistics ◽  
Unique Nature ◽  
Global Operations ◽  
Global Information Systems

The trend toward globalization of business has increased the need for global information systems that enable and support global operations. In order to develop and support global information systems, organizations must employ a global IS/IT workforce. This chapter details the unique nature of this global IS/IT workforce, identifies and discusses specific challenges to the management of these employees, and describes strategies for addressing these challenges. Relevant prior research on this topic in the management and MIS disciplines, labor statistics, as well as prior and ongoing research by the authors, are used to support this discussion.

The Concept of Modularity in the Context of IS/IT Project Outsourcing

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-17
Author(s):  
Shahzada Benazeer ◽  
Jan Verelst ◽  
Philip Huysmans
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Failure Rates ◽  
It Services ◽  
Research Project ◽  
It Project ◽  
Technology Services ◽  
Insight Into

Information systems and information technology (IS/IT) services are often outsourced to external partners for multiple reasons. The outsourcing literature is persistently reporting high failure rates in IS/IT project outsourcing. Literature suggests that the IS/IT project outsourcing is a complex maneuver, but unfortunately, none of the proposed remedies (mitigating actions) have considered addressing the complexity related issue in IS/IT project outsourcing. This paper explores the concept of modularity, as it has been applied in many other fields in order to manage complexity and enhance agility/flexibility. This paper presents a case study conducted at a Belgian organization involved in technology services and is part of a research project consisting of four cases. This study illustrates a systematic approach, how the concept of modularity can be applied in identifying ‘couplings' which may be responsible for increasing complexity to IS/IT project outsourcing. This study is a first attempt to gain insight into this phenomenon.

One Size Does Not Fit All

2011 ◽  
pp. 10-15
Author(s):  
Gerald Grant
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Global Information ◽  
Information And Communications Technologies ◽  
Global Organizations ◽  
It Systems ◽  
Communications Technologies ◽  
Global Information Systems

Managers, IT practitioners, and IS researchers are easily seduced by the latest information technology wave. Consequently, we tend not to question conventional assumptions about the implementation of IT systems in organizations. Instead of providing managers with directions, IS researchers can sometimes turn into prognosticators of the latest information technology fad. We call on researchers to delve below the surface of new IT trends to expose inconsistencies between technological promises and the reality of deploying information systems in global organizations. Many IS researchers are turning their attention to the area of global information management (Gallupe and Tan, 1999). This journal is a vehicle for publishing such research work. Interest in integrated global information systems is fueled both by the developments in information and communications technologies and the trends in business towards globalization of products and markets. Conventional wisdom suggests that businesses operating in global markets would benefit from implementing global information systems and achieve economies of scale and scope. This may be true in some cases, but does it hold for all cases? I suggest it may not. In certain cases deploying global IT systems could lead to diseconomies of scale.

Evaluating health information systems: An assessment of frameworks

1997 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohan Jayasuriya
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Information Systems ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Information ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Health Information Systems ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Finite Amount ◽  
Positivist Approach

The rapid increase in investments for computerised systems is a major concern for all health organisations. Questions about these investments arise as information technologyis only one of the areas that are competing for a finite amount of resources. There is also some concern that some of the failures of information technology would have been detected if proper evaluation of information systems were conducted. The state of the art of evaluating information systems shows changes from a very positivist approach tomore comprehensive approaches that would incorporate multiple methods. This paperpresents an assessment of the techniques and methods for information systems evaluation, followed by an application to a case study in community health to illustrate the value of the contextualist approach to evaluation. The paper argues for the use of longitudinal, contextualist approaches to information systems evaluation if decision-makers seek to improve the situation of information systems in the health industry.

scholarly journals The displaced librarian: Providing research services to your campus without a library

2019 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 92
Author(s):  
Alexandria Chisholm ◽  
Brett Spencer
Keyword(s):  
Information Technology ◽  
Group Work ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
State University ◽  
Pennsylvania State University ◽  
Help Desk ◽  
Penn State ◽  
Student Center

Penn State-Berks is one of 24 commonwealth campuses in the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) system. With around 2,800 students, it is a small, tight knit community, yet remains one of the largest campuses outside of University Park.While the campus is spacious and beautiful, one feature it lacks is an adequate student center, which makes the Thun Library the heart of the campus. Not only does the library provide traditional and valued services, such as access to textbooks on reserve, computer and software access, and research assistance, it is also a location where students gather to study, hang out between classes, and conduct group work. With a large commuter population, the library offers vital spaces for those without dorm rooms to complete their work. In addition, several other departments are also housed within the building, including the Center for Teaching and Learning along with the information technology (IT) help desk.

scholarly journals Marketing of an academic program: case study of an engineering program

2021 ◽  
pp. 56-64
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Kuzior ◽  
Michalene Grebski ◽  
Wes Grebski
Keyword(s):  
Marketing Strategy ◽  
Public Universities ◽  
Private Universities ◽  
Academic Program ◽  
Academic Programs ◽  
Educational Services ◽  
State University ◽  
Pennsylvania State University ◽  
Engineering Program

The main purpose of this research was the development of an effective marketing strategy for academic programs. The nature of academic programs has significantly changed. The curriculum at those programs as well as the methods for recruiting students were very traditional and rigid. In recent decades many private universities were created and started competing with established public universities. At the same time, public universities started competing among themselves. Recently many people view university education as an investment which provides a return in the form of well-paid employment after the completion of their formal education. The recruitment strategy needs to be adjusted to the changing conditions. Every academic program is trying to compete for the best highly-motivated high school students. Academic programs are operating in a similar mode to traditional businesses by selling educational services. The article presents a marketing approach to offering educational services in universities using the example of an Engineering Program at The Pennsylvania State University Hazleton (USA). The authors, using the case study method, place their considerations in a broader context of issues related to the marketing and communication strategy of universities. They indicate the need to use the 7-element marketing mix using the broader context of relationship marketing and feedback as well as building the brand of the university to skillfully meet the challenges of the dynamically developing world and the constantly evolving labour market, while not giving up the intellectualization of the educational processes and shaping the personality of the students. The methodology used in this study was a case study of the marketing of an Engineering program at The Pennsylvania State University (USA). This is a public university successfully competing with many private universities in the United States (USA). A theoretical analysis of the marketing strategy based on the best and most effective practices is being presented in the article. The paper also contains practical suggestions and recommendations that can be used by both private and state universities.

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