Revolutionizing Undergraduate IS Model Curricula: Insights from AIS SIG-ED 2007 Panel

1. Introducing a New Way toRevise and Maintain UndergraduateInformation Systems Model CurriculaPanel at AIS SIG-ED 2007 (12/9/2007) Panelists: Kate Kaiser, Marquette University Janice Sipior, Villanova University Heikki Topi, Bentley College Joe Valacich, Washington State University

2. Agenda • Introductions • Background: Brief history of undergraduate model curricula in IS • Update on curriculum wiki • Encompassing the global perspective • Proposed core curriculum • Role of computing ontology in IS curriculum development • Conclusion

3. Background and Brief History • New initiative launched publicly at AMCIS 2007 • The latest IS undergraduate model curriculum is IS 2002, published in early 2003 • IS 2002 was a relatively minor update of IS’97 • IS 2002 and IS’97 were both joint efforts by ACM, AIS, and DPMA/AITP • IS’97 was preceded by DPMA’90, and ACM Curriculum Recommendations 1983 and 1973

4. Motivation for the Revision • Time: IS’97 was the last significant undergraduate curriculum revision • Work done mostly in mid-1990s • Major contextual changes • Globally distributed development sourced through complex arrangements • Web technologies and approaches • Packaged software/ERP • Ubiquitous, mobile computing • Enrollment crisis in IS and computing in general • Need to clarify the identity of IS • Need to get the broader community involved

5. Discussion Questions • What factual information do we have about the changes in skills requirements for IS graduates? • Have the outcome expectations regarding the capabilities of IS graduates fundamentally changed since early 2000s? • Does the curriculum have anything to do with the enrollment crisis? More importantly, can we have an impact on enrollment with curriculum changes?

6. Update on Curriculum Wiki • New collaborative approach to curriculum development • Use of MediaWiki to create a platform for continuous sharing of work products and for open discussion • The environment has been available since August 2007; very little use outside the task force so far • Importance of formal governance structure • Importance of incentives • Importance of dedicated technical support

7. URL for the Wiki • http://blogsandwikis.bentley.edu/iscurriculum

8. Discussion Questions • What incentive mechanisms can we create to increase public participation? • How can we make participation sustainable long-term? • What should we as a community do to increase the perceived value of curriculum development work? • Does the idea of a formal governance structure have any chance of succeeding?

9. Encompassing the Global Perspective • Need to recognize the global nature of the IS discipline and the wide variety of contexts in which IS curricula are offered • Addressing the needs of multiple regional systems • Encouraging global involvement in the process

10. Discussion Questions • What are the implications of moving towards a genuinely global curriculum? • How can we create a curriculum that encourages local innovation but provides a global structure? • Can a model curriculum be general enough to serve the entire world?

11. Proposed Core Topics • Foundations and Role of Information Systems • Data & Information • Systems Analysis & Design • IT Infrastructure • Project Management • Application Development

12. Proposed Curriculum Structure

13. Discussion Questions • How stable do you expect the proposed core group of topics to be? • Do managerial topics get sufficient attention within the proposed core? • If a core is specified, should all IS programs give the same emphasis to all aspects of the core? • What does it mean to have a core if different career tracks interpret the core differently?

14. Issues related to the Information Systems Body of Knowledge • Most model curricula are based on a hierarchically structured body of knowledge (sometimes a foundation for the discipline) • IS Body of Knowledge was carefully developed for IS’97 but barely updated for IS 2002 • Little work done since • Possibility to base the IS body of knowledge at least partially on the results of the computing ontology project (see http://what.csc.villanova.edu/twiki/bin/view/Main/OntologyProject)

15. IS Core vs. Computing Ontology Mapping • Data & Information • Systems Analysis & Design • IT Infrastructure • Information Topics • Systems Development • Systems and Project Management • User Interface • Computing and Network Systems • Computer Hardware Organization IS Core Computing Ontology

16. IS Core vs. Computing Ontology Mapping • Project Management • Application Development • Systems and Project Management • Programming Fundamentals • Programming Languages • Systems Development IS Core Computing Ontology

17. Reminder: Mechanism for Maintaining the Wiki • The Task Force members are responsible for editing curriculum content pages • The “Discussion” tab is available on each page for comments by all registered members of the wiki • Any structural changes will be made by the Task Force members • It is our intent to establish an editorial structure for the wiki after this initial development period

19. “Discussion” Tab

20. How Can You Contribute? • All members of the IS community are encouraged to participate actively in the discussion on the wiki • You are able to review and comment on any aspect of the curriculum recommendation • You can also contact the curriculum task force co-chairs Heikki Topi (htopi@bentley.edu) and Joe Valacich (jsv@wsu.edu) directly and give your feedback to them • Tell about the project to as many colleagues of yours as possible

21. Thank you!!