Aligning the Information Systems Curriculum with the Needs of Industry and Graduates

Graduates of an undergraduate information systems (IS) program were surveyed to determine whether the curriculum could be better aligned with their career needs by adjusting the balance between technical and business content. A survey was designed and validated to measure managerial, technical, and interpersonal communication responsibilities as well as duration of employment and preference for certification requirements. A research model is presented, and path analysis is used to reduce overspecification and arrive at a parsimonious model. It was found that although emphasizing technical topics at the expense of business content may provide short-term benefits in transitioning to the work force, such a move may inhibit career advancment as graduates assume greater managerial responsibilities. Emphasizing communications and teamwork skills while maintaining the existing curriculum balance between business and technical content is indicated as an appropriate strategy to align the IS curriculum with the needs of industry.