Competencies and Learning for Management Information Systems

Previous research has established that users need competence in both computing and the context of the software. Information systems often fail due to low competence amongst users, and no study is known to provide a systematic account of the user competence needed. This research concerns competence needs amongst prospective users of a computerised management information system where there is no operational computer based IS from which to obtain data. The study shows that three subject matter areas of user competence are needed for people who will use computerised IS -knowledge on how the domain is represented, work competence, and computer literacy. Work competence is mainly practice based, while the domain related knowledge and computer literacy are based on explicit concepts, grounded in science or technology. User training should therefore start with practice in the case of work competence, while presentation of principles, concepts, and structures would constitute a better starting point when teaching computer literacy and how the domain is represented.