As the competition for computer programming positions increases, the development of skills leading to increased job performance becomes more important for IT employees. This research identified a combined skill set of technical, business, and soft skills needed by computer programmers. Two hundred twenty-seven IT professionals evaluated the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed by computer programmers via a web-based survey. Findings indicated that although an eclectic mix of skills is needed for computer programmers, technical and soft skills are viewed as more critical than specific business skills by IT professionals who have programming experience. In addition, the more broad-based skills, which cut across languages, platforms, and tools, are viewed as most important. The identified skill set can be used as the foundation for designing information systems curricula.

Industry requires employees with strong project management and leadership skills, but for students to develop and improve, they need the opportunity to practice the concepts, techniques, and skills described in the typical lecture. An exploratory case study was conducted at a metropolitan commuter campus to determine if assigning graduate MIS students as project managers for undergraduate MIS student teams working on experientiallearning projects in a systems analysis course would result in an effective learning environment. The course integration delivered a positive outcome for clients, undergraduate students, and graduate students. Clients received projects that met requirements. Undergraduates received higher-quality grade assessments when compared to prior semesters. Graduate students received a hands-on project management experience within the course and were observed to improve in the areas of leadership, communication, relationship development, and team building; as well as the more traditional “hard” technical skills. Recommendations to improve future course integration were developed.

This paper outlines a study and technology that teleports the knowledge and skills of doctors when and where they are needed resulting in a reduction of costs by reducing the number of patients who must be transported from remote areas to cities where specialists are located. Rapid access to specialists' expertise results in lowered risk of death or permanent damage which requires lifelong treatment and monitoring. The technology presented in this paper has the potential to replace and/or supplement existing telemedicine systems costing in excess of $25,000 with a laptop, a $150 Kinect, an Azure connection, and an Office 365 account. The Kinect allows doctors to control the system without breaking the sterile field via hand gestures and voice commands with a goal of reducing the direct cost of healthcare associated infections to hospitals and patients in the USA currently ranging from $28.4 to $33.8 billion annually.

Information System's (IS) requirements inadequacy and volatility are major IS project risks leading to failed, over budget, or over schedule projects. Within requirements determination, an area of focus for the inadequacy and volatility issue is the application domain (i.e., business domain). One step towards better requirements determination methods, techniques, and tools for the application domain would be a theoretically-grounded model for specification emergence and evolution. This paper presents a model of specification emergence and evolution that is confirmed using a case study.

This paper presents research in progress precipitated by a proof-of-concept project on Microsoft Azure requested by Walmart Corporation.

This paper describes the use of the Microsoft Imagine Cup Software Design Invitational (SDI) as a way to overcome some of the issues related to traditional or "closed" style capstone projects. Problematic issues with traditional capstone projects, as identified by literature, are discussed in conjunction with how the SDI addresses them. The main premise is participation in the Imagine Cup SDI can address the issues faculty wrestle with as they attempt to provide students with the best possible learning experience. Additionally, the authors present some of the advantages and challenges that they have noted from personal experiences using SDI as a part of a capstone course.

Employers have been critical of the opportunities students have to integrate technical business and soft skills in IS programs. The IS capstone course is one mechanism through which to address this need. Literature indicates IS capstone courses differ in the weight they place on technology, business, and soft skills integrated as a part of the course. This paper argues it is important to address all three skill sets in a roughly equitable manner while it is often a student’s technical skills that get them an interview, it is their business and soft skills that get them hired (Litecky, Arnett, & Prabhakar, 2004). The Imagine Cup Software Development Invitational (SDI) is introduced as a way to accomplish this equitable integration. A phenomenological study is conducted to evaluate student’s experiences in the Imagine Cup SDI to gain some insight as to its utility in providing business, technical, and soft-skill development. The study finds that the Imagine Cup participants experienced development in their technical skills, their soft skills, and to some aspects of their business skills. Personal development was also noted as a result of the Imagine Cup experience.

Phishing attacks were responsible for $3.2 billion dollars in losses during 2007 and the number of attacks is increasing daily. According to the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team, phishing was the top security threat during the first quarter of 2007, comprising 48% of all reported incidents. The purpose of this study was to identify the level of student awareness related to specific phishing tactics. Findings revealed that while students are unlikely to provide personal information in response to an email request, they can be easily tricked by numerous other tactics. This paper reports the findings of the study in addition to listing suggested points to include in classroom discussions on phishing. Education is the most powerful tool available for combating the growing phishing security threat and student vulnerability.

In a day and age where computer information systems permeate virtually every facet of society, organizations find it difficult to hire adequate numbers of computer personnel. Judging by the number of `quick-fix' organizations that offer training in “weeks rather than years” and the number of individuals that each claims to train per year, the shortage would seem to come from a lack of adequate skills rather than a lack of applicants. This paper reports the findings of an study designed to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed by one group of information technology (IT) personnel — the computer programmer.

In an era when information technology (IT) is an integral part of society, many organizations are finding it difficult to hire adequate numbers of information technology personnel. Computer systems have permeated virtually every facet of organizations, creating a demand for individuals with IT skills at every level. The situation is complicated by the fact that finding personnel with the appropriate skills mix is even more problematic. As we move into the new millennium, IT roles are shifting at a rapidly increasing pace. Technical skills alone are not sufficient for success in the IT profession --- soft skills like communication, problem solving, and teamwork are increasingly important. Recognizing that no curriculum can provide all training needed by every employee in every position, the issue then becomes to identify which specific sets of knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are most important to IT organizations. This paper presents the findings of an initial case study undertaken to identify the necessary KSAs that can be used in the development of academic and industry training programs. The focus of this paper is on the findings for soft skill KSAs.

Rapidly changing organizational and technological environments present a major challenge to computer professionals. Systems development by individual programmers is increasingly less feasible. It is necessary to make a conscious paradigm shift from developers primarily working independently to produce modular system components to cross-functional teams comprised of various system experts working jointly to produce a solution to a mutually defined user-problem set. The complexity of the dialogue and poor communication between users, developers, and managers have been cited as major factors in the failure of information system projects. In contrast, computer-supported collaborative work (CSCW) systems enhance communication by providing process and task support in the form of group memory, anonymity, parallel communication, and collaboration tools. They further provide both task and process structure. This study investigated, in the context of a field-based case study, possibilities for formation of a synergistic union between CSCW and CASE tools. A major dimension of today's software challenge is in gearing up for large-scale system development necessitating large teams of systems engineers. The principal goal of this research was to advance the body of knowledge regarding the nature of collaborative technological support in the software development process. Specifically, the study was designed to evaluate the potential for using a CSCW tool as an effective front-end to a CASE tool in the furtherance of SDLC goals. The findings suggest that CSCW support had the greatest positive effect on satisfaction levels with the communication process and the task progress, as well as confidence in the quality of the results. Positive results were also seen in satisfaction levels with resulting system quality, team productivity, communication process, communication technology, CASE technology benefits, system development methodology, project management methodology, group process, and task results. A slight decline in satisfaction with the system development technology occurred. Additionally, a significant increase was seen in the volume of descriptive information available to the development team. However, despite these positive results, CSCW support was abandoned after nine months because of training and political.